Boston's got a new temporary resident along the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and it's not just any ol' piece of public art. The "Hope Out of Darkness" bronze sculpture is here to stir some reflection on our nation's dark history and the enduring struggle for justice. Honoring Solomon Northup, a free man turned slave turned memoirist and abolitionist, the installation will loom over Bostonians from October to December this year, according to the City of Boston's official announcement.
Now here's a bit of backstory for those who might've snoozed through history class: Northup was born free in New York in 1807, then kidnapped, sold into slavery, and spent a grueling twelve years in chains down in Louisiana. Flash forward to 1853, and he's a free man again, penning "Twelve Years a Slave" and giving the abolitionist movement a major shot in the arm with his public talks and plays. Bostonians might feel a particular prickle of pride, and shame, since their city was a hub for anti-slavery advocacy, but also, had its economic ties to the very institution they were fighting against, as reported by the City of Boston.
Wesley Wofford is the sculptor behind this thought-provoking piece, and it's not sticking around forever. Created by the Solomon Northup Committee for Commemorative Works, this sculpture isn't just a nod to the past, it's a mirror reflecting the ongoing fights for equality and the arts' role in that battle. "The Hope Out of Darkness sculpture," as noted in the City of Boston's press release, "invites Bostonians to reflect on the city's abolitionist legacy, the ongoing struggle for justice, and the transformative power of art." And once its stint is up in Boston, the statue will settle down in Marksville, Louisiana — the place where Northup finally regained his freedom.
