By Katlin Oberlin  
 
Katlin’s Top 3
3.  It’s Downtown!
2.  The room to swing with friends!
1.  The hunt to find the tire swing!
 
Quick Facts
LOCATION:  North West of La Grande Vitesse off Ottawa near Michigan
GET OUT! FACTOR (OUT OF 5): !!!!!
 
 Downtown Grand Rapids, right off of Ottawa near Michigan, you will find a large orange-red colored statue called “La Grande Vitesse” translated “the great swiftness” which was created by the famous artist Alexander Calder in 1969. This sculpture is so unique that from every corner you get a dramatically different view. Being 54 feet long, 43 feet high, and 30 feet wide this sculpture creates a perfect, bright backdrop for many family, friends, or engagement pictures. In looking at a brochure of Grand Rapids you will most likely see a picture of the La Grande Vitesse, but many people are surprised to find an additional sculpture behind it.
 
If you have ever seen the movie Juno then you have heard a song that talks about a Grand Rapids sculpture. The songwriter Kimya Dawson wrote a song titled “Tire Swing” which talks about the Motu Viget.
 
One of Grand Rapids “interactive” sculpture is unknown to most Grand Rapids natives. Growing up in Grand Rapids my whole life meant I did not know about the tire swing until my freshman year of college.
I had been to the La Grande Vitesse, but never went about 50 feet North West to the tire swing, called the “Motu Viget” meaning “strength through activity”. The tire swing is hidden behind trees and the courthouse so it is easily missed. “Motu Viget” was created by Mark di Suvero in 1977. Mark wanted to create a swing that would balance off of steel beams. So he used three steel beams, cables, and a rubber tire to create a steel construction with parts that can be rocked, pushed, and sat on.
 
About eight people can fit comfortably on the unique tire shaped swing. Unfortunately many people marked the Muto Viget with graffiti, by carving their names into the thick rubber, ruining the original look. The sculpture could be described as “a tire swing for adults”. This unique piece of art is heavy and fairly hard to push, but can swing relatively high for something of its size and weight. However, I will warn you that it is hard to stop the tire once you get it moving!
 
There is nice grass around the swing and picnic tables, perfect for a picnic by the sculpture. If you do not feel like packing a lunch the Motu Viget is also in perfect walking distance from many good restaurants like: Big O’s Café, XO Asian Cuisine, Ritz Koney bar and grille, Bobby J’s, and Madcap Coffee.
 
On weekends (starting Friday at 5) you can park for free at any parking meter downtown. You could also check out Mark di Suvero’s sculptures across the street at Frederik Meijer Gardens. The Motu Viget is one of those “special finds” in Grand Rapids that you do not want to miss out on. So GETOUT! and see Grand Rapids hidden treasure!
 
P.S. Do not forget to head downtown this week for the Art Prize Competition. You might even see a Loch Ness monster in the Grand River, or a table and chairs on top of the Railroad Bridge (Blue Bridge). So head downtown from September 23- October 10th. For more information check out artprize.org