UPDATE: $5K reward for return of bronze plaque of artist’s grave
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Stages of Freedom announced that they have put out a reward for $5,000 for the return of the allegedly stolen plaque from late artist Edward Bannister’s grave.
According to Providence City Cemetery Director Annalisa Heppner, the plaque was discovered to be missing on Tuesday and believes that it may be on its way to a scrap yard.
Police and all scrap shops have been notified.
The Providence Police Department confirmed that they are actively investigating the case.
Ray Rickman, the owner of the bookstore that is putting up this reward, said, “This is an unholy act, entering a sacred space and desecrating one of the City’s most important memorials to Black excellence.”
Edward Bannister and his wife Christiana Carteaux Bannister lay beneath the headstone in the North Burial Ground which was designed by artist Mahler B. Ryder, RISD’s first Black tenured professor.
In 1975, Ryder created a new monument after finding the original 1901 headstone damaged.
Mayor Smiley has made this investigation a top priority, releasing the following statement:
Edward Bannister is a renowned and cherished member of Providence’s history, and I am devastated to learn that a piece of this memorial was stolen. I’m thankful to the members of the Providence Police Department who responded quickly to this situation and are actively investigating this incident.
If anyone has information, please contact Stages of Freedom at (401) 421 – 0606 or e-mail StagesofFreedom@aol.com.
Follow ABC6 for updates.
