Client: Hofstra University

Overview

7' Bronze seated Frederick Douglass on two-tiered Mesabi® polished black granite in a 15'd. Diamond-10 brushed granite finished plaza with incised text in-pavement

Goals

The Call to Artist asked for "a public artwork to represent the history, achievement, and aspirations of people of color." Thus the speech in the sculpture's hand says, "Until color shall cease to be a bar to equal participation in the offices and honor of the country, this discussion will go on... Until the American people shall make character and not color the criterion of respectability, this discussion will go on..." The speech is continued in pavement. Hofstra administration and students declared the importance of this application to their goals.

Process

There was a civic-engagement event for finalists and in-studio and on-site meetings throughout the creation process