Sculptor to Speak in Evanston

Rotarian and sculptor Guy Bellaver of St. Charles will discuss the notable Native American statue "Ekwabet" that he created for his hometown at 1 p.m. Sunday, January 11, at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 Central Street in Evanston.

Bellaver's 15-foot bronze sculpture — a composite figure of an American Indian — was unveiled in 1988 on the banks of the Fox River in downtown St. Charles. It was commissioned by a civic committee to honor the Potawatomi Indians who occupied the area from the 17th century until their forcible removal in the early 1800s. Funds for the project were raised through a broad-based community effort.

Representatives of four Potawatomi bands were present at the unveiling, and at the invitation of the committee that oversaw the project, they returned the following year with an Indian name for the statue, "Ekwabet," meaning "watching over."

Admission to the talk is included with an entrance donation to the museum. Suggested donation is $5 for adults; $2.50 for seniors, students, and children. Maximum suggested admission per family is $10. For information, phone (847) 475-1030. On the Net: www.mitchellmuseum.org.