FREEDOM sculpture installed at Taft Broome Park
The City of Hickory Public Art Commission (PAC) will gather at Taft Broome Park on Aug. 13 at 5:30 p.m. to celebrate the dedication of a new public art sculpture added to Hickory’s collection. Members of the Hickory community are invited to attend the dedication.
Set outside the Ridgeview Recreation Center, the sculpture titled “FREEDOM: An Homage to Harriet Tubman” towers 8.5 feet tall and measures 48 by 48 inches at its base. The commemorative monument pays tribute to one of America’s prominent African American freedom fighters.
The inscription on the piece evokes the legacy of Harriet Tubman, an African American abolitionist and political activist whose courage and determination shaped history. Born in 1822, Tubman endured unimaginable hardship as a slave yet lived to the age of 90. She devoted her life to fighting for equality and guiding others to freedom, most notably through her heroic efforts with the Underground Railroad.
Plans are to light the sculpture from the inside at a future date. This lighting will further enhance its appearance and give life to the words on the sculpture.
“This dedication to Harriet Tubman is a tribute to her relentless spirit, which is embodied in nearly all Americans, that being the relentless pursuit of personal freedom and dignity,” said Wes Christopher, chair of the PAC.
Crafted by North Carolina artist Vandorn Hinnant in 2015, the polychromed aluminum sculpture stands as a reminder to the community of the African American freedom movement. Hinnant commented, “On each of the sculptures in this series, one of the four text panels bears text that I created. These words are composed as if the person I am paying homage to spoke them. In this way, I am closing a gap between the one being honored and myself. I am giving voice to a sentiment I believe is congruent with and in resonance with the thinking of the person being honored. For this one, I composed the words, ‘I, Harriet Tubman STAND for the FREEing of my enslaved People’.”
Hinnant is a painter, sculptor, author, poet, and educational consultant residing in Durham, North Carolina. He received a BA in Art Design from North Carolina A&T State University and studied sculpture at UNC-Greensboro. His works of art are in private collections in Africa, North America, and Europe, and in public collections across North America. He leads hands-on experiential workshops on “The Geometry of Art and Life” for learners of all ages. He has served as guest curator of exhibitions, as juror of many fine art competitions, and guest lectured at colleges and universities. He serves as an independent arts educational consultant working with both youth and adult learners.
The Public Art Commission, an advisory group to the Hickory City Council, works to enrich Hickory by integrating a wide range of art into public spaces that creates a visual sense of the community, improves quality of life, represents all facets of population, commemorates history, and inspires all residents and visitors.
Hickory’s Public Art Collection is comprised of over 100 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, murals, and benches. For more information about the Public Art Commission and public art in Hickory, visit www.hickorync.gov/public-art-commission.