Etta Smith Wilson Way: Ribbon Cutting

Name: Etta Smith Wilson Way: Ribbon Cutting
Start: 2026-05-26T18:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-26T19:30:00-04:00
Location: Public Museum High School

Schedule

Tue May 26 2026 at 06:00 pm to 07:30 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Public Museum High School | Grand Rapids, MI

Join us for the official ribbon-cutting of Etta Smith Wilson Way. This formerly lifeless and nameless alleyway was beautified through public art and other placemaking efforts as part of the Women's Way alley activation initiative.
Mural by local artist, Kevin Wolfrom.
Event Schedule:
6:00 PM – Performance by SkyeLea, snacks and mingling
6:30 PM – Speeches & Ribbon Cutting
7:00 PM – Music continues and casual mingling
Partners:
A big thank you to all of our partners involved in this project. Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids, GR Public Museum, Grand Rapids Public Schools and the Greater GR Women’s History Council.
About Etta Smith Wilson Way:
Located in the alley next to the Grand Rapids Museum High School. Etta Smith Wilson (1857–1936) was Grand Rapids’ first woman reporter and a pioneering naturalist whose work bridged Indigenous knowledge, formal education and early journalism.
About the Artist:
Kevin Wolfrom is a Grand Rapids–based artist creating cosmic-inspired portraiture that blends traditional and contemporary techniques. Using airbrush and 3D elements, his ethereal works explore human emotion and the vastness of the cosmos, inviting reflection through color, texture and form.
About Women’s Way GR:
#WomensWayGR celebrates the stories of remarkable local women leaders while transforming overlooked public spaces into lively, creative destinations.