When Art, Hope, and Justice intersect
Proposed MLK monument in downtown Fort Wayne would memorialize the leader’s iconic words
By Lauren Caggiano
For Ink Spot
Fort Wayne is home to Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge and if all goes as planned, it will also boost an artistic monument called “Pillars of Hope and Justice” to honor the late civil rights leader.
The City of Fort Wayne Public Art Commission announced its vision for a sculpture to be placed at the southeast corner of the University of Saint Francis’ Performing Arts Center parking area at 420 West Berry St. Houston-based artists Shane Albritton and Norman Lee of RE:site Studio are the artistic brains behind this concept. Both have a track record of producing public work that connects, inspires and shares a passion for social justice.
Should the sculpture get the approval of the City Council next month, it will be a project years in the making. The Fort Wayne City Council recently passed a resolution for the creation of a public display commemorating the words and visit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Fort Wayne in 1963. They intend to recognize the social value of memorializing Dr. King's dream of racial equality and harmony and celebrating the words he spoke at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, now the USF Performing Arts Center. Dr. King visited Fort Wayne on June 5, 1963, on his journey to Washington, D.C. where he would make the historic “I Have a Dream” speech just two months later.
The sculpture would bring his telling words to life and preserve them for posterity. According to Nancy Stewart, Public Art Commission Chair, the proposed monument’s format was intentional, and it’s steeped in meaning.
“When we think of all the other monuments dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King, most of them are sculptural, but have bodies, so to speak,” she said. “This one is truly unique because it does showcase his words.”
Senior City Planner Sherese Fortriede said the artists’ proposal stood out because the words integrated so well into the structure. There’s also the fact that papyrus reeds and six pillars hold great meaning. The former evokes Dr. King’s vision of nonviolent resistance. The sculptural, steel forms will be waterjet cut with words from King's 1963 speech in Fort Wayne. The waterjet words dramatically arc over visitors, evoking King's statement, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” The pillars are planned to be approximately 15' tall. LED ground up-lights will be installed in the center of each pillar, so that they can be seen at night.
In other words, the artists’ vision goes beyond face value.
One of the things about the papyrus reeds is that it was one of the first forms of human communication,” Fortreide said. “Then there’s also the fact that the pillars of hope and justice will continue to communicate for years to come.“
If approved, the final design and development process is slated to begin in January 2022. As part of the final design process, the Public Art Commission and the selected artists will be seeking input from the community. The monument will be unveiled on June 5, 2023, as part of a planned 60th Anniversary commemoration of Dr. King's speech in Fort Wayne.