GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A rendering of the famous "LOVE" sculpture can now be found in downtown Grand Rapids.
City leaders and members of the Frey family representing the Frey Foundation unveiled the sculpture Wednesday morning at the Louis Campau Promenade. The Frey family has supported investing in public art to create a dynamic sense of presence and place in the core of Grand Rapids.
"We embarked on a public arts project about three years ago, we looked at 30 different pieces of art and picked the LOVE sculpture," said Tripp Frey, Frey Foundation Trustee.
The Grand Rapids-based organization bought the sculpture and has invested in other public art in the city.
"Our goal was pretty simple, we wanted to install an iconic permanent structure, a piece of art in the downtown core, because we wanted to continue to add the vibrancy in downtown Grand Rapids and make it an exciting place to live," said Frey.
Robert Indiana is the artist behind the LOVE sculptures. It was based on the original premise that the word is an appropriated and usable element of art.
"Everyone knows what love is, everyone appreciates love... wants to give love and no matter where you come from, no matter your gender, your race, your sexual orientation...this is a piece of art that can relate to you," said Frey. "We just hope it sends that message of happiness and fun and love, obviously."
Grand Rapids joins several other locations across the country and globe with renderings of the sculpture. They include the original in Indianapolis and others in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jerusalem and Lisbon, Portugal.