Located in front of the Santa Ana Public Library, “The Stolen Dove” sculpture represents Palestinian American poet, Cal State Fullerton alum and civil rights leader Alex Odeh. The sculpture was created by Khalil Bendib and supported through a fundraising effort led by radio personality Casey Kasem.
In 2020, the sculpture’s dove was stolen, recovered by police and eventually reattached to the monument. Working with the city and Odeh’s family, and with Bendib’s permission, artists at Grand Center Art Center have removed the dove once more — this time with intention and care — so it can serve as a messenger carrying forward the story of Odeh’s life.
By setting the dove in motion again, Grand Central Art Center invites the public to participate in a living monument — one that expands beyond the library grounds and the bronze figure into the everyday lives of those who choose to know and tell Odeh’s story. The dove will begin its journey with Odeh’s daughter, Helena, and wife, Norma, before traveling to a series of homes and institutions that are connected to and inspired by Odeh’s legacy. Each location will host the dove, sharing its story with families, friends and communities. In June, the dove will be returned to the statue.
Each family or organization that hosts the dove will hold a community gathering to share the story of Odeh’s life. After moving the dove to its next host, they will receive a precise replica as a gift, encouraging them to continue carrying the story forward. In this way, a single public sculpture of a dove multiplies into a flock, with each holder becoming a long-term steward and storyteller.
“The Stolen Dove” is a project led by artist Jon Rubin in collaboration with the Odeh family and Grand Central Art Center. The project will debut its first public activation at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, in collaboration with the premiere of the documentary film “Who Killed Alex Odeh?” by filmmakers Jason Osder and William Lafi Youmans.
This project was made possible with the support of Norma, Helena and the city of Santa Ana. Project funding was provided in part by the Segerstrom Foundation and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, which supports Grand Central Art Center’s artist-in-residence program.