Black Heritage Commemoration Sculpture at Hayti
Why a monument, and why now?
Well, because we’re the lions writing our history instead of having it written for us. Rain or shine, for hundreds of years to come, this piece will commemorate the tenacity of a people and a place.
In a year where the idea of monuments is parallel to pain, fear, and death, we want the record to show that in Durham, NC it is a monument to our beautiful black resilience that stands triumphant.
Our objective:
We are raising funds in an effort to have a monumental sculpture produced for Hayti Heritage Center. We are partnering with artist and sculptor Dare Coulter to create a cast bronze piece to be installed permanently on the Hayti Heritage Center grounds.
The piece tells the story of black resilience; acknowledging the things that were left behind for so many people in their journey across the Atlantic, to the gifts that we used to climb out of the chains that society bound us in. The full artist statement for the piece is under the cost breakdown.
Why so much?
Creating a monumental sculpture costs a lot of money! The piece will be cast in Bronze to ensure its longevity. But even with its expense, we're hoping that in conjunction with grants and targeted fundraising, we can create this piece.
The funds we are raising are strictly for the production of the piece: scaling up the maquette ($17,500+), rubber mold making and casting in bronze ($1000 per sq ft) and is not an exact estimate for the sculpture's final volume, which will be given upon completion of the model. The amount we are raising does not currently include an artist fee for the sculptor. The final volume will increase the estimate anywhere between $15,000 and $80,000. Delivery and installation are not included in the production cost.
What if there is money left over?
The St. Josephs Historic Foundation Inc, was created to preserve The Hayti Heritage Center. Additional money will be set aside for the maintenance of the sculpture (re-application of bronze finishings and any repairs), although the hope is that maintenance will be minimal because it is a cast metal sculpture. Money past that will go into the fund that not only helps pay for repairs to the site, but to also fund and sponsor arts and community events.
Artist Statement/explanation of the sculpture
The girl on the back of the boat looks back to home; the bird in the hand is the Sankofa symbol and calls back to our heritage, ancestors, and strength to share the story of how we prevailed. In the boat are a man and woman, symbolic of the people who birthed our presence here at great sacrifice, especially those who were forced into slavery or were victims of the systems that thrived long after its technical end. There are catfish in the boat, which are widely regarded as a specialty food item. But, as with the development of soul food, Black people took the “scraps” they were given and made beautiful wonderful things with them. The catfish now symbolizes the ability to thrive even against expectation, and the ability to defy all odds.
The man in the front of the boat holds his hands out with and above a mountain of books and printed materials that turn into a road, representing the climb of success both financial and otherwise, nodding to Durham’s Black Wall Street. The gown covered in stars is about the North Star and the stories we have written past the point of the tragedies placed upon us. Standing atop the pile of knowledge is a series of artisans and craftsmen, holding the tools of their trades—and the tools that allowed them to prosper—up in the sky. They stand in a line, representing the boundary of where impossibility ends and anything is possible begins.
The woman on the far right is the story teller, the griot, presenting light to the future and leading the way. Birds circle her hand, signaling hope. On her cloak are small details of constellations and stars, acknowledging our ability to make it to freedom by any means necessary. The patterns on the side are those made by plots of land. The agricultural nature of this pattern honors those who were forced to work the land and build this country, but they also represent the view from “above”—the place where we rose above all that was tossed in our path, triumphant on the other side.
Standing in front of her on the clouds are children, the future, that she brings along with her. They all float off the ground on clouds and toward hope, referencing the brilliant illustration for "The People Could Fly" by Leo and Diane Dillon. The 1985 book by Virgina Hamilton is a retelling of twenty four black folk tales, including slave narratives. Each of us is journeying through life writing our own story. The fact that we are here today means that we’ve made it through, our ancestors have made it through. And it is that fact that I am hoping to honor with this monumental sculpture.
Thank you so much for your interest in this commemorative piece, we can't wait to see you at the unveiling!
The Hayti Heritage Center & Dare Coulter
Hayti Heritage Center:
https://hayti.org/
Dare Coulter:
www.DareCoulter.com
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/DareCoulter
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DareArt
More information about St Josephs Historic Foundation Inc: The St. Joseph's Historic Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1975 to serve as the conservator of the old St. Joseph's AME Church complex built in 1891, now named the Hayti Heritage Center. The Foundation is dedicated to preserving, restoring and developing the embellished old sanctuary into a cultural institution promoting the understanding and appreciation for the African-American experience and contributions to world culture.
