Pillars of Hope and Justice, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Public Monument

Completion: 2023

Location: City of Fort Wayne, IN

Description: Pillars of Hope and Justice commemorates the historic visit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Fort Wayne in June 1963, where he shared his vision of nonviolent resistance. The monument features the six pillars of nonviolent resistance, evoking both ancient architectural pillars and reeds of papyrus. Each pillar is composed of the words from King’s speech in Fort Wayne. For Dr. King, the six pillars of nonviolent resistance were defined in opposition to the values of Egypt as told in the Exodus story. This form symbolizes the tension between authority and vulnerability, justice and compassion, struggle and shared human frailty.

The reed resonates with the powerful tradition of Black preaching on the “New Exodus.” In Isaiah 42:1-4, the reed is a metaphor for nonviolent leadership for justice: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold…I was put my Spirit in him, and he will bring justice to the nations…A bruised reed he will not break….” The Hebrew prophet Isaiah inspired Dr. King and many other Fort Wayne faith leaders.

Design Optimization/Management: METALAB

Photography: BFA Commercial Photography