Get Involved
This project will impact the City of Indianapolis, culturally, in a way and at a scale that has not been seen. It will incite and inspire dialogue between the Civil Rights era veterans, the Millennials, and the youth of today. This dialogue will begin to bridge the chasm that has existed between these generations. The ripple effect of this installation and the transference it will cause is a key in changing our community as we move forward into the future. --Jason Wright, AKA alpha.live, hip-hop artist, Indianapolis, IN -- attended Wilson's presentation and Q & A at Crispus Attucks High School.
While Wilson has envisioned the physical manifestation of the project and begun networking in the community, his concept still requires extensive outreach and research to learn about the African-American experience in our city and state. After Wilson made his proposal to the Cultural Trail team in late-2008, he gave a presentation at a community gathering at the historic Madame Walker Theatre in February in 2009. One year later, as project funding has become available, Wilson came back to Indianapolis and gave a presentation and a question and answer session with community members at Crispus Attucks High School. We intend to work with Wilson to host progressively larger community gatherings with the goal of having the community provide Wilson with insight into the African-American experience in Indianapolis, to understand what this new artwork may mean to them, to foster constructive dialogue, and to create a sense of ownership of this artwork within the African-American community. This sense of ownership will carry forward through the public dedication of the finished project on September 22, 2010, the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's signing of the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Do you have a community group that would like to be a part of a Q & A with Fred Wilson?
Fred Wilson will be returning to Indianapolis in late-August 2010 and Mid-January 2011.
If you or your organization would like to take part in a Q & A with Wilson, please send an email to Mindy Taylor Ross at artstrategies@me.com with your contact information.
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