A Dedication in Bronze

Roger B. Chaffee Bronze

Dedicated May 18, 2018

A bronze statue of Apollo I Astronaut Roger B. Chaffee was presented to the City of Grand Rapids by the Michigan Military Preservation Society Saturday, located in front of the Grand Rapids Children's Museum in the center of downtown. Martha Chaffee and retired NASA Skylab & Space Shuttle Astronaut Col Jack Lousma (USMC Ret.) participated in the dedication. Another proud moment.


About the artist

J Brett Grill is a sculptor of figurative bronzes, monuments, and portraits. Brett earned a Bachelor’s degree in sculpture from the University of Michigan in 2001 and an MFA in painting at the New York Academy of Art in 2003, both with honors. Brett worked as an Associate Professor of Art and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Missouri for 10 years and now maintains a studio in Grand Rapids, MI. He has lectured on his own work and historical artistic techniques throughout the Midwest. He has exhibited at various galleries and museums across the nation including Chicago and New York.

Brett has sculpted presidents, politicians, athletes, coaches, and other leaders. His commissioned sculptures can be found in public and private collections across the nation including the University of Kentucky, the University of Michigan, Grand Valley State University, Albion College, the New Hampshire State Library, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the City of Grand Rapids, the City of Charlotte, and the National Statuary Hall Collection.

The Michigan Military Preservation Society commissioned Brett to design and make the bronze statue of Astronaut Roger B. Chaffee and it was dedicated in front of the Grand Rapids Children Museum May 19, 2018.

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