Object Details
sculptor
Conwill, Houston 1947-2016
architect
DePace, Joseph 1954-
author
Majozo, Estella Conwill 1949-
Notes
Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York, Buffalo survey, 1994.
Heritage Preservation SOS! survey of NEA Art in Public Places funded sculpture, 2002.
Summary
An abstract sculpture roughly constructed in the shape of a house, the "attic" facade embossed with maps of sections of the Underground Railroad, with references to the Niagara River as a passage to freedom, and symbols of African-American culture. The "cellar" has a door which opens and closes, with a copper plaque embossed with transcriptions of actual notes passed between station masters and conductors of the Underground Railroad. The notes are written in code. The cellar originally held various objects, including a mirror, compass, and harmonica.
Culture
African American
Date
Summer 1988. Dedicated Oct. 17, 1992
Control number
IAS NY000339
Type
Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture
Sculptures
Medium
Bronze, copper sheeting, chrome plating, wood, concrete, mirrors, compasses and harmonicas
Owner/Location
Administered by Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University Niagara University New York 14109
Located Thomas and Martha Orton Root House 3106 Upper Mountain Road Pekin New York
Data Source
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
Topic
History--United States--Underground Railroad
History--United States--Black History
History--United States--New York
Ethnic
Architecture--Domestic--House
Object--Written Matter--Map
Abstract
Record ID
siris_ari_326289