Slavery Memorial (Brown University, Providence, RI)

Slavery Memorial (Brown University, Providence, RI)

Subject (Topic)
Slavery
Northeastern United States
Public art
Public sculpture

Subject (Object Type)
Commemorative sculpture

Located near University Hall, the oldest building on campus and constructed with the labor of enslaved persons, the memorial has two distinct features: a sculpture and a stone plinth. The sculpture consists of a massive ductile-iron chain, which emerges from a large iron dome. The links of the chain are broken and the iron dome, just visible as it peaks out of the earth, recalls the physical restraints of a ball and chain. A stone plinth with engraved text stands next to the sculpture.

Puryear, Martin, 1941-

Photographs by Renée Ater

Dedicated: September 27, 2014

The Slavery and Justice Committee of Brown University

Brown University

To read more about the work, click here.

JPEG

English

Visual Arts-Sculpture

Manning Hall, 21 Prospect St, Providence, RI 02912, United States

Inscription on stone plinth:

"This memorial recognizes Brown University’s connection to the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the work of Africans and African-Americans, enslaved and free, who helped build our university, Rhode Island, and the nation."

Clark-Pujara, Christy. Dark Work: The Business of Slavery in Rhode Island. New York: NYU Press, 2018.

Sculpture: 96” x 96” x 55” & Plinth: 43 3/8” x 39 ½” x 30”

Granite; Ductile cast iron; Stainless steel

Renée Ater