By Staff
BENTON HARBOR – Lake Michigan College on Monday presented artist Richard Hunt with its Cultural Arts and Diversity Award during the 12th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast at the Mendel Center for Arts and Technology.
This special award was presented to Hunt in recognition of his advancement of the greater Benton Harbor community and LMC.
Hunt's steel sculpture, Active Hybrid, was dedicated May 12, 1997, as a gift to Dowagiac from the St. Denys Foundation.
"The commitment Richard Hunt has made to Benton Harbor is at the heart of the revitalization that is happening in the Arts District," stated LMC President Dr. Randall R. Miller. "His art is a uniting force that encourages people to develop a greater understanding of their environment and reach beyond the boundaries of their everyday lives."
The world-renowned sculptor established his presence in the Benton Harbor Arts District a little over 10 years ago when he opened his studio on Territorial Road. Over the past decade, his studio has become a true focal point within the City of Benton Harbor.
Hunt has welcomed members of the community into his studio to experience the joy and educational value that art affords to individuals.
Hunt has also made connections with LMC by sharing his art on exhibit at the for students, faculty, staff and community members to enjoy.
He has also furthered LMC's efforts to raise scholarship funds through its Winner's Circle Auction.
"The way in which Richard Hunt expresses his vision of the world through sculpture has enriched this community beyond measure," stated LMC Board of Trustees Chairman Steven Silcox. "An artist of his stature could have established a studio anywhere.
"We are fortunate to have him as part of this community where his presence inspires others to invest their energy and talent into the growth of this important community of artists."
Hunt developed his artistic skills at the Junior School of the Art Institute and later at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
He began to experiment with materials and sculpting techniques, influenced heavily by progressive twentieth-century artists.
This experimentation garnered critically positive response from the art community, such that Hunt was exhibited at the Artists of Chicago and Vicinity Show and the American Show, where the Museum of Modern Art purchased a piece for its collection.
He was the youngest artist to exhibit at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, a major international survey exhibition of modern art.
Hunt has completed more public sculptures than any other artist in the country.
His signature pieces include Jacob's Ladder at the Carter G. Woodson Library in Chicago and Flintlock Fantasy in Detroit.
He also created I Have Been to the Mountain, which graces the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Memphis, Tenn.
He was appointed by President Lyndon Johnson as one of the first artists to serve on the governing board of the National Endowment for the Arts and he also served on the board of the Smithsonian Institute.
Hunt is the recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees.
Hunt has continued to experiment throughout his successful career, employing a wide range of sculptural techniques.
Through his work, Hunt often makes comments on contemporary social and political issues.