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Triumph of the Human Spirit

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Coordinates: 40°42′52″N 74°00′10″W / 40.71445°N 74.00289°W / 40.71445; -74.00289
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Triumph of the Human Spirit
The sculpture at Foley Square in 2022
Map
ArtistLorenzo Pace
Year2000 (2000)
TypeSculpture
MediumBlack granite
LocationNew York City, New York, United States
Coordinates40°42′52″N 74°00′10″W / 40.71445°N 74.00289°W / 40.71445; -74.00289

Triumph of the Human Spirit is a 2000 black granite sculpture by Lorenzo Pace, installed at Manhattan's Foley Square, in the U.S. state of New York. According to the City of New York, the 50-foot-high (15.2 m), 300-short-ton (272.2 t), abstract monument is derived from the female antelope Chiwara forms of Bambaran art. The sculpture is sited near a rediscovered Colonial-era African Burial Ground, and its support structure alludes to the slave trade's Middle Passage.[1][2] Following the 1991 discovery of the African Burial Ground, the work was commissioned by the New York City Government program Percent for Art.[1][3] The work was dedicated on Columbus Day (October 12), 2000.[4] Pace feels that Columbus Day is an inappropriate date to celebrate his "work that honors the slaves, immigrants, and Indians who were wronged in this nation's formative years."[4] He and other African-Americans boycotted the unveiling because of the Columbus Day date,[5] which was chosen as a rare day in which both New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and United States Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan could synch their availability. The work was commissioned for $750,000 ($1.68 million in 2024), but took 8 years (including two rejections) to complete.[4] Prior to its unveiling, it seems to have been subject to efforts by Christo who was known for artistically "wrapping large structures", but Pace had taken $16,000 ($29.21 thousand in 2024) preventative measures.[4] The sculpture has received a lot of notoriety as a gathering place for demonstrations and rallies.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Honoring the African-American Experience: Triumph of the Human Spirit". New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  2. ^ "Triumph of the Human Spirit". Dr. Lorenzo Pace. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  3. ^ Sealock, Barbara (August 1, 2011). "Artist Lorenzo Pace creates and captivates". Illinois State University. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d Finn, Robin (September 27, 2000). "PUBLIC LIVES; With Memorial, a Monumental Predicament". Retrieved June 8, 2025 – via NYTimes.com.
  5. ^ "Lorenzo Pace's Biography". The HistoryMakers. December 17, 2000. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  6. ^ Erickson, Nick (August 23, 2020). "Doctoral alum's monument is at the center of the movement for racial equality in NYC". Illinois State University. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
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