Just two years ago, the Opa-locka Community Development Corporation (OLCDC) unveiled famed artist Hank Willis Thomas’ “All Power to All People” sculpture at the Town Center Apartments in Opa-locka. Today, the 8-foot-tall, 800-pound artwork will be on center stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Thomason Plaza for the Arts.The afro pick, which is owned by the OLCDC will be on loan, as part of a collaborationcelebrating Thomas’ “All Power to All People” work. In addition to the sculpture at the Arsht Center, a 25-foot version will be on display in Overtown at a space donated by award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson adjacent to his forthcoming Red Rooster restaurant. Led by the Arsht Center and Kindred Arts, the project was made possible with the collaboration of community partners including Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator Mission (DVAIC), Opa-locka Community Development Corporation, Marcus Samuelsson, Red Rooster Restaurant, Love Luck Faith and Art Africa.While the OLCDC has a rich and long history in affordable housing and community building, it is also working to redevelop the northwest Miami-Dade neighborhood through creativeplacemaking and the arts. Over the past seven years, it has partnered with nationally renowned artists such as Renee Cox, Walter Hood, Ebony G. Patterson, Dread Scott, and Nari Ward to bring cultural education, arts interventions, and exhibitions to local residents. In 2014, OLCDC purchased and renovated an old warehouse to become The ARC, Opa-locka’s first cultural community facility to help revitalize downtown Opa-locka. And, next year it will open a Movement Studio/ Mini Film House in the same neighborhood.“Art expands our capacity to perceive, understand and represent the world, which is why we’re committed to building up our community through cultural activities and public art such as this one. It is my hope that this piece will incite residents to think further about what this symbol represents to them, their community and the world,” says Dr. Willie Logan, OLCDCPresident/CEO.The “All Power to All People” sculptures will be on display at their current locations until theend of January.
