A Place to Sit, 2010 Dimensions for chairs, each 2' L x 2' W x 10' H and entrance piece 8' x 8'

Before the onset of industry and European settlement, the Menomonee Valley was a vast marsh that extended from Lake Michigan to Miller Park. This was fertile ground for the harvesting of wild rice by American Indians. On an annual basis, various tribes came together peacefully to harvest rice, to carry them through the long winter. The arrival of Europeans disrupted Native American life. As Europeans began to settle in the area, American Indians were displaced and the marsh was filled to provide land for industry. Local historian John Gurda describes the turmoil as a “game of musical chairs. In the end, it was the Indians who had nowhere to sit.”

The high-back chairs of A Place to Sit honor the spirit and people of Wisconsin’s American Indian tribes. In their tradition of cooperating with others to share in the bounty of the Menomonee Valley, all are invited to gather and share in the rich history and promising future of this area.