Reconciliation Group Art Installation to Move to AnMed on Juneteenth

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The Anderson Area Remembrance and Reconciliation Initiative, in partnership with AnMed Health will host a ceremony to unveil "The Sculpture" designed by nationally renowned Anderson artist Herman Keith, on Juneteenth (Monday _at 5 p.m. at the AnMed North Campus.

The 1,500-pound artwork memorializes the stories of Anderson County's five known victims of racial terror lynching: Reuben Elrod, Elbert Harris, John Laddison, Willis Jackson and Ed Sullivan, whose names are displayed on five large jars containing soil from the lynching sites.

Made of wood and metal, the Sculpture is designed in harmony with the art installation in tribute to lynching victims at the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in Montgomery. The ceremony will feature contemporary performances by the “I AM Strong Dance Company.”

In 2020, a group of community members in Anderson County, formed the group to honor the five known victims of racial terror lynching in Anderson County by reflecting more honestly on the history and legacy of racial and economic injustice. The reconciliation group is working in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, to raise awareness and inspire action through dialogue, community education, and public memorials to eliminate health and social disparities and move us toward the goal of a "Beloved Community" for all. To learn more, visit https://RemembrAnceanderson.org