A new sculpture series going up in Community Park focuses on bringing light to parts of Jefferson City history not commonly focused on.
The Historic Foot District Area Sculpture Series focuses on the experiences of African American Jefferson City residents during the world wars and segregation.
The first of seven pieces will be dedicated at 5:30 p.m. Sunday as part of Juneteenth celebrations.
The piece, "Adjacent," was made by Columbia artist Chad La Fever and features two figures standing apart but leaning forward.
It is made from silicon bronze with a clear lacquer seal and wax, standing about 7 feet tall.
"The sculpture is a commentary on segregated co-existence and represents the very different lives of Black and white people living near one another, yet worlds apart," La Fever said. "Both figures are standing together in familiar and intimate proximity, but a wide gulf existing between the figures prevents them from being fully engaged.
"With heads hung and nearly in contact, there is a sense of sadness, hesitation and resignation. But there is also the feeling that the two figures are coming together with the intention of moving forward," La Fever said.
The piece was one of 22 submitted in the first artist call.
Seven sculptures will go up in total, each focused around a different aspect of life for the Black community between the 1900s and 1960s.
The Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department organized a six-person commission of Black residents, most of whom grew up in the Foot District, as the selection committee.
They are in a second round of project submissions for additional pieces in the series.
The pieces are also reviewed by city engineers for safety.
In the call for artists, the group also presented information about the Foot District - personal stories, facts and pictures - to help inspire artists.
"I am inspired by the history our community and the sculpture series plans," commissioner Chris Duren said. "I feel the artist's explanation of his work speaks volumes for yesterday, today and tomorrow. It's so important that we honor, remember and learn from the stories of those who came before us."
Cultural Arts Specialist Leann Porrello said the project started about a year ago and began with committee members talking to members of the Black community about their experiences.
"They told us stories from the businesses that used to be in the historic district to how they grew up, how they lived, just kind of the history," she said. "We went through a lot of archives and documented history."
Even though the first round of submissions included 22, the committee is holding a second round of artist submissions.
"Out of the first round of 22 sculptures, we picked one," Porrello said. "It's based off of different criteria: the look of the sculpture, how it does with the theme, how publicly safe it is, what's the meaning."
The goal is for people to be able to walk through the park and learn, through the statues and signs with them, about the history of the area.