National Effort Illuminates the Journey from Enslavement to Freedom Across the Ohio
(Un)Known Project “On the Banks of Freedom” public art installation in Louisville, KY. Photo by Josh Miller.
Crowd-sourcing history by gathering the names and stories of enslaved people in America
LOUISVILLE, KY, April 27, 2022 – (Un)Known Project, an effort led by IDEAS xLab, discovers and honors the names and stories of enslaved people in America while spotlighting the economic and systemic role that slavery played in the development of cities. (Un)Known Project launched with a focus on Louisville, KY – a slave state, and New Albany, IN – a free state, highlighting their shared history connected by the Ohio River.
The first public art installation of its kind in Louisville, KY, “On the Banks of Freedom,” overlooks the Ohio River and was unveiled on Juneteenth 2021. “On the Banks of Freedom” features the names of enslaved people, quotes from community members and Hannah Drake’s poem Finding Me. Created by artists William M. Duffy and Dave Caudill, the installation is crafted from limestone, granite and steel benches and sits atop a cement platform sandblasted with the footprints of Black Louisvillians. In the months since its unveiling “On the Banks of Freedom” has hosted more than 1,300 visitors and supported the unearthing of more than 150 names of enslaved people.
On June 1, 2022 the Frazier History Museum will unveil a commissioned art piece by Ché Rhodes as part of (Un)Known Project. “We are pleased to feature the work of renowned Louisville glass artist Ché Rhodes in the Frazier History Museum's portion of the (Un)Known Project,” said Amanda Briede, Curator at Frazier History Museum. “His work will provide a contemplative space for visitors to reflect on the known and unknown stories of the enslaved people of Kentucky. Recreating items owned by enslaved people out of beautifully blown glass, the preciousness of Ché's material reflects the preciousness of these common items to the enslaved people who owned them. The work will be featured in our new exhibition, The Commonwealth: Divided We Fall. This exhibition showcases diverse voices in Kentucky's history by sharing their stories in the story of the Commonwealth.”
In June, (Un)Known Project events include the premiere of Journeys to Freedom: (Un)Known Project River Cruise aboard the Belle of Louisville on June 9, 10, 22, 23. Tickets will be available for purchase in May at BelleofLouisville.org.
With the upcoming addition of its second site in New Albany, Indiana, the (Un)Known Project Trail will be launched to connect sites across the United States in the coming years with a focus on the names and stories of enslaved people in America. Starting with “On the Banks of Freedom,” and exhibits at Roots 101 and Frazier History Museum, the trail will guide visitors to the upcoming public art installation “Freedom Landing” in New Albany. The sites and art installations create spaces for visitors to reflect on our nation’s true history and the impact of enslavement in America, which may include their family’s role enslaving Black men, women, and children while supporting racial healing and reconciliation.
The progress to-date was made possible thanks to contributions exceeding $670,000 from many funders and donors backing the work both locally and nationally.
“We are thrilled that the Mellon Foundation’s new Humanities in Place program is supporting the (Un)Known Project. At the intersection of people and place, the (Un)Known Project has the potential to engage a fuller telling of our shared history by elevating Black people’s experiences, stories, presence, and contributions through public space installations and other arts-based experiences,” said Justin Garrett Moore, Humanities in Place Program Officer with the Mellon Foundation. “The IDEAS xLab team and their collaborators’ approach can help us collectively better acknowledge and understand the past and reflect on the more complete histories and narratives that impact our lives and communities today.”
“We are proud to support (Un)Known Project and their efforts to tell the stories of enslaved people and their contributions to the United States,” said Lane Harwell, program officer for Creativity and Free Expression for the Ford Foundation. “These works will deepen our understanding of American history and provide essential context for present and future generations.”
“The Humana Foundation is honored to help bridge the divides in our community and advance conversations and actions that empower everyone across Louisville and Southern Indiana,” said Tiffany Benjamin, CEO of The Humana Foundation. “The (Un)Known Project is a powerful example of how diverse stories, art and culture can inform and transform communities into more healthy and equitable places to live.”
"By bringing to light the names, history, and stories of enslaved Black people in Kentucky, the (Un)Known project is confronting the painful but telling history of African Americans in the US Southeast, and showing how those stories connect to the racial segregation, displacement, and state violence that many people continue to experience today,” said Paulina Helm-Hernández, Program Officer US Southeast, Foundation for a Just Society. “Foundation for a Just Society is proud to support the project as it shares its vision and practice of addressing and repairing historical harm."
For more information visit unknownprojecttrail.com or email unknownproject@ideasxlab.com.
About (Un)Known Project
(Un)Known Project creates artistic spaces and experiences to support learning, healing, reflection, reconciliation, and action by honoring the names and telling the stories of Black men, women and children that were enslaved and hidden figures in Louisville, KY and the surrounding region. The Project is led by artists Hannah Drake and Josh Miller of IDEAS xLab. Partners include Roots 101 African American Museum, Frazier History Museum and Louisville Metro Government. Current support for (Un)Known Project includes grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mellon Foundation, the Ford Foundation, Humana Foundation, Foundation for a Just Society, Elhapa Foundation, Brown-Forman, Republic Bank, LG&E-KU and individual donors.
About IDEAS xLab
IDEAS xLab is a dynamic artist-led nonprofit based in Louisville, KY - and working nationally that proactively seeks to unearth and honor community stories that transform people, spaces and cultures. The organization leads collaborative efforts including (Un)Known Project, has an ongoing partnership with Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness focused on creating a Lead Free Louisville, and offers IDEA workshops and keynotes focused on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility.