Keepers on Parade event slated for this weekend

A new public art project that honors the most famous part of Wichita’s skyline will be unveiled Saturday.

The Keepers on Parade – 10-foot fiberglass replicas of the Keeper of the Plains statue by Kiowa artist Blackbear Bosin – will be displayed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Mid-America All-Indian Center.

The sculptures, which were painted by local artists, are part of a project by Together Wichita, a communitywide initiative made up of businesses and organizations to showcase what makes Wichita special.

Admission to Keepers on Parade is free. The price for other exhibits at the center will be discounted.

After the event, the sculptures will be on permanent display throughout Wichita.

The Keeper of the Plains stands at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers. Last year was the 40th anniversary of Bosin dedicating his artwork to the city of Wichita. Special permission from the Bosin family was given for the Keepers project.

The Keeper of the Plains became the logo of Wichita’s Convention and Tourism Bureau in 1980 and of Sedgwick County in 1982. Smaller replicas of the Keeper now stand in Wichita’s sister cities in France and Mexico.

Last summer, artists submitted proposals for the blank replicas. Those selected received a $1,000 honorarium on completion and approval of their painted Keeper.

To purchase a sculpture, contact Ben Jennings at 316-268-6383 or e-mail bjennings@togetherwichita.com.

This story was originally published January 29, 2015 at 6:14 AM with the headline "Keepers on Parade event slated for this weekend."