North End hails 2 icons — artist and subject

More than 100 people gathered in the Prado Sunday afternoon to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Dallin's birth and the history of the North End. Although originally from Utah, Dallin spent the last 44 years of his life in Arlington.

"Today is about art. It is about history,'' said David A. Kubiak, cochair of the Dallin-Prado event committee, in an introduction to the crowd.

"Most important today is the celebration of 150 years since Cyrus Dallin's birth. His works of art evoke emotion . . . so please get to know Cyrus Dallin today.''

Another well-known work of Dallin's is the Native American sculpture - "Appeal to the Great Spirit'' - that stands outside the Museum of Fine Art.

Gathered in front of a stage near Dallin's statue depicting Paul Reivere, the crowd both sat and stood as community leaders and politicians took the stage to give their thanks to the North End community and applaud Dallin's work. Among those who spoke, Mayor Thomas M. Menino presented a proclamation in honor of Dallin to the artist's family and the Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum in Arlington.

Revere Jr., 81, the president of the Paul Revere Memorial Association, approached the microphone to address the crowd after three local grade school students read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, "Paul Revere's Ride.''

Revere Jr. ended his remarks by thanking the North End community.

"The Paul Revere House is part of a very special neighborhood,'' he said. "You've been great to us, and we appreciate it very much. It is all about the neighborhood.''

Sitting at the front of the crowd, a smiling Dallin-Doherty, now 89, was one of 25 members of her family present, according to Kubiak.

"I can't really express how I feel about it,'' Dallin-Doherty said. "People are getting more and more appreciative [of the statue] now.''

Kubiak said he was very pleased with how many people turned out for the event, especially so many Dallin family members. "The only regret I have about the event is I couldn't meet Cyrus myself,'' Kubiak said.

Derek J. Anderson can be reached at derek.anderson@globe.com.