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 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, 2011, the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's signing of the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Last meeting, October 19 & Next Steps
The 4th public meeting held with Fred Wilson presenting E Pluribus Unum drew nearly 350 people and a community-wide buzz about this concept. Download this list of just a sample of the comments and questions received that evening:
Questions asked of Fred Wilson.pdf 51.22 KB
Next Steps: As of Dec. 14, 2010: Fabrication of proposed public art installation, "E Pluribus Unum" by Fred Wilson continues to be on hold. Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), the co-lead on the Cultural Trail and commissioning entity for all Cultural Trail public art projects, continues to work on plans for more community dialogue. Key to this work is forming a partnership with the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee's Race and Cultural Relations Leadership Network (RCRLN). The RCRLN is not taking a position on the art project, but instead sees their potential role as that of an advisor to CICF who can help foster productive outreach and dialogue around the artwork, and perhaps more importantly, around the larger issues of race and culture. Future plans and public meetings will be announced in early 2011. Please check back here or see below for more information about how to sign up to receive future updates about these meetings and information specific to this piece.
Do you have a community group that would like to be a part of a Q & A with Fred Wilson?
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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Back to Fred Wilson main page.
