OOS Sculpture

Marian A. Spencer

2021 / Tom Tsuchiya & Gina Erardi / Cincinnati

Marian Spencer photo1.jpeg

This life-size bronze sculpture depicts Marian A. Spencer holding hands with two children. She holds one hand outstretched, inviting the viewer to join hands and complete their circle.

Marian Spencer was a local civil rights activist who fought for desegregation and was the first African American woman elected to the Cincinnati City Council. The statue is the first one depicting a named woman in Cincinnati. It was commissioned by The Woman's City Club of Cincinnati and designed and sculpted by local artists Tom Tsuchiya and Gina Erardi.

Location: Smale Riverfront Park, 8 E Mehring Way

County

: Hamilton

Citation

: Tom Tsuchiya and Gina Erardi, “Marian A. Spencer,” Ohio Outdoor Sculpture , accessed September 28, 2023, http://oos.sculpturecenter.org/items/show/2091.

Title

Marian A. Spencer

Description

This life-size bronze sculpture depicts Marian A. Spencer holding hands with two children. She holds one hand outstretched, inviting the viewer to join hands and complete their circle.

Marian Spencer was a local civil rights activist who fought for desegregation and was the first African American woman elected to the Cincinnati City Council. The statue is the first one depicting a named woman in Cincinnati. It was commissioned by The Woman's City Club of Cincinnati and designed and sculpted by local artists Tom Tsuchiya and Gina Erardi.

Date

2021

Publisher

Ohio Outdoor Sculpture

Identifier

2091

Location City

Location County

Location Notes

Women's Committee Garden

Provider Qualifier

Commissioned by

Provider Entity

The Woman's City Club of Cincinnati

Location Site

Location Street

8 E Mehring Way

Location Type

Installation Date

2021-06-28

Materials

Inscription

Engraved on accompanying stone bench:
"Marian A. Spencer/1920-2019/'Be smart, be polite, vote and keep on fighting'/Led the desegregation of Coney Island - first African American woman elected to Cincinnati City Council - fought to desegregate public schools"