“Hope and Dream Under Glory”

NIGERIAN-AMERICAN VICTOR EKPUK CREATES THE LARGEST OUTDOOR SCULPTURE IN SOUTH EAST, WASHINGTON DC

The White House. The US Capitol Building. The National Monument. For many, these quintessential DC landmarks are symbols of the “American Dream.” Ironically, these works of art were built by countless enslaved men and women and the history books don’t say enough to honor these amazing artists for their contributions.

I started to wonder how far has my hometown come in embracing and highlighting creatives of color, particularly of African descent. In my search of public art by African Americans in DC, I found “Hope and Dream Under Glory.” This 20 feet tall, 10 feet wide statue by DC-based artist Victor Ekpuk is the first permanently installed sculpture in front of Boone Elementary School, making it the largest public art in n South East, Washington DC.

“It was serendipitous that the mascot of Boone Elementary school is a Black Panther,” said Ekpuk. “In the African culture that inspires my work, the power of the feline spirit is encoded in secret symbols and graphic signs called nsibidi. By weaving together, the mystery, power and history of the black panther with the vibrancy and spirit of the children of Boone Elementary and their community, this sculpture is designed to visually stimulate, inspire, inform and challenge the imaginations of young minds. It is my hope that this sculpture will perhaps be part of a broader conversation about the history of Africans in America, I’m honored for the opportunity to contribute to the memory of a community.”