mission statement
history of the project
how the sites were chosen
background of the underground railroad
symbology of the sculptures
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mission statement | The mission of this project is to provide an educational outreach programconsisting of a diverse formulation of collaborative inter-disciplinarymediums (sculpture, poetry, and architecture) as a vehicle for furtherunderstanding of the movement and providing educational curricula for futuregenerations to come. The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University, alongwith African American artist Houston Conwill, has undertaken a pubic artproject which emphasizes community involvement to help foster greater culturalawareness and harmonic reflection among diverse cultural backgrounds.Recognizing the importance of preserving a monumental era in American history,both parties have endeavored to bring into the forefront the rich legacyof the Underground Railroad Movement as it relates to this community, andto pay homage to those persons who dared to defy the odds to reach freedom.The major focus of the project commemorates the joint ventures of thosewho joined together at great personal risk of community ostracism and libertyto conduct a national humanitarian effort to put an end to the atrocitiesperpetrated upon enslaved African Americans during the slavery era. |