Great Barrington — The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project group will hold a press conference and public reception Wednesday, April 19 at 6 p.m. at the Mason Public Library. At the event, which will be held in the library’s main reading room, the group will formally introduce the three sculptors who were selected as finalists for the creation of a monument to Du Bois which will be placed in front of the library.
Out of the 17 sculptors that initially applied, the group chose three finalists: New York-based sculptor Vinnie Bagwell, Pennsylvania-based sculptor Richard Blake, and California-based sculptor Dana King.
Meanwhile, back on March 29, the group held an “Idea Jam” public event at St. James Place.
According to organizers of the “Idea Jam”, the concept behind the event was to bring people together to have a community conversation about the sculpture, along with its potential impact on the community, and other issues involving the Berkshire area related to race, race relations, and its history.
During the event itself, attendees were broken up into groups and asked various questions. They were asked to give suggestions on what the youth educational component of the sculpture project should be, how the project could connect to a prominent narrative of Black contributions to build an empowerment tool for residents, how the project could connect to Black tourism, along with potential “gains” and “pains” for the community once the project is completed.
In an interview before the event, Ari Zorn, a member of the sculpture project, said that one of the many components of the committee is community engagement, which is why the “Idea Jam” came about.
“This project is not just about Black people, it’s about everybody,” Zorn said. “It’s about everybody here walking in each other’s shoes and understanding why we are here. We need to stop fighting and realize that we are all human and we can work together.”
Zorn said that, over time, Great Barrington has not only become a mecca for tourism but also history. “This is much more than just putting up a statue,” Zorn said. “This is also about the acknowledgment and awareness of Great Barrington being W.E.B. Du Bois’s birthplace, along with the acknowledgment of the Black people who have grown up in this community, and the history of America, including slavery. The statue and this project will reflect the history and culture of this country, and that’s what this is truly about. When I entered this room, I see that we have a room full of Black, Brown, and white people together at this event. Bringing people together for collaboration is what gives me hope about this world.”
For more information about the project go to the group’s website.
