UnKnown Project Public Art Experience

Overview

Artist-led talks that delve into the history of enslavement in Kentucky and the birth of the project and creation of the “On the Banks of Freedom” public art installation. To support healing, participants are invited to stand in the footprints along the edge of the platform representing enslaved people looking toward freedom in Indiana and are encouraged to carry/pull a 70lb “replicated” sack representing a 1/3 of the cotton an enslaved person had to pick in a day. As part of the session, participants are encouraged to confront their family’s history and any involvement in enslavement, and to share the names, documents, stories and archives with the project as a starting place for healing, reconciliation and redemption.

The "On the Banks of Freedom" public art installation is located between 9th and 10th St. along the Louisville riverwalk. Parking is available in the lot at the north end of 10th St, and behind the Kentucky Science Center. The site is accessible for individuals with mobility impairment from both parking lots.