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Journey to Freedom
Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: 2021/08 – August
Cashiers artist Wesley Wofford’s stirring Harriet Tubman statue makes its way to Bridge Park in Sylva with a ceremony at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, September 26.
Wesley Wofford’s Journey to Freedom
The Jackson County NC NAACP Branch 54AB is proud to host Harriet Tubman – Journey to Freedom, a traveling monumental sculpture that will be on public display in Sylva from mid-September to mid-December.
The nine-foot, 2,400 lb. bronze sculpture will arrive on September 20, with the dedication ceremony to take place on Sunday, September 26, from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. in Bridge Park, 76 Railroad Avenue in Sylva.
Academy- and Emmy-award-winning sculptor and Cashiers resident Wesley Wofford is the dynamic artist behind this inspiring work of art.
The monument of Harriet Tubman on her road to freedom represents a woman of strength, faith and confidence. The sculpture depicts Tubman leading a terrified, enslaved girl, broken shackles at their feet. Wofford placed the child behind Tubman to demonstrate how she is “very protective of her, shielding her from what was coming but also guiding her,” he stated.
Harriet Tubman “personifies a role model and hero, and we are proud to commemorate the resilience and contributions of strong women throughout history,” said organizers.
The statue was originally created for a private commission, but Wofford decided to share his copy of this piece with the public because of the overwhelming response to the sculpture on social media.
Dr. Dana Murray Patterson, President of NAACP Jackson County NC Branch 54AB, emphasized the importance of this monument in North Carolina: “With North Carolina being home to more than 20 Freedom Road sites, we, along with our community partners, felt having such an inspiring representation of the remarkable story of Harriet Tubman here in Sylva would be an incredible opportunity to facilitate cultural understanding, create space for dialogue and share traditions that represent a diverse community. We are excited to share this emotional sculpture with our friends in Jackson County and beyond.”
For more information contact Jackson County Branch 54AB (NC) NAACP: [email protected] or call (828) 331-1803.
