Call Description

This commission honors Quincy’s historic role in the Underground Railroad and the broader abolition movement.

The sculpture will commemorate a community that aligned itself with freedom in one of the most perilous chapters of American history.

In the mid-19th century, Quincy stood at the edge of freedom. Across the Mississippi River lay Missouri, a slave state. On these shores, freedom seekers first stepped onto Illinois soil. Here, they encountered both danger and possibility. They were pursued by bounty hunters enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, yet they were also met by Black abolitionists and allies who risked their own safety to assist them.

In 1858, Quincy hosted one of the historic debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, a defining national exchange over the expansion of slavery. That debate, alongside the documented actions of local Black abolitionists and freedom seekers, frames Quincy as a crossroads of national consequence in the American struggle toward emancipation.

The courage demonstrated here in the 19th century established a civic identity that continues to shape how this community responds in moments of need.

This project seeks a powerful, non-representational sculptural statement that honors:

• The bravery, agency, and emotional courage of enslaved individuals who began the perilous journey toward freedom  
• The leadership and moral conviction of abolitionists in Quincy  
• The collective conviction of a community that chose to align itself with justice  

This artwork should elevate the determination of freedom seekers while acknowledging Quincy’s role in the broader national story that led to emancipation.

Additional Historical Context for Artistic Reflection:

Following the Missouri Compromise of 1820, Quincy became a strategic frontier settlement for abolitionists. Free Black residents of Quincy, despite the constraints of Illinois Black Codes, built families, businesses, and networks that resisted federal fugitive slave laws.

Berryman Barnett became one of Quincy’s earliest known Underground Railroad workers, guiding freedom seekers arriving from Missouri toward safety. Others, including Charles Sidener, Simeon Clark, Monroe Clark, George Howard, and Paul Budroe, contributed to this network of resistance. Many later served in U.S. Colored Infantry regiments during the Civil War.

Yet this story is not solely about those who helped. It is fundamentally about those who fled bondage. They chose uncertainty over enslavement. They crossed a river knowing capture could mean violent return. Their courage is central.

Quincy is proud to be part of the national movement that culminated in the abolition of slavery. This sculpture should reflect that pride with integrity, depth, and historical awareness.

Artistic Vision

We are seeking:

• A non-representational or abstract sculptural work  
• A durable outdoor installation suitable for permanent public display  
• A concept that conveys courage, transition, sanctuary, moral conviction, and collective responsibility  
• A work that meaningfully reflects the bravery and leadership of Black abolitionists and freedom seekers  

We are not seeking:

• A literal statue of a single historical figure  
• A design that reduces this complex history to a simplified rescue narrative  

Artists are encouraged to consider metaphor, movement, light, threshold, and material symbolism.

Location

The installation site is the Quincy riverfront near historic landing areas where freedom seekers first arrived in Illinois.

Arts Quincy will separately fund:

• Concrete foundation or pad  
• Site lighting  

Artists must design for outdoor conditions including wind, moisture, and seasonal temperature changes.

Budget

Total commission budget: $15,000.

The $15,000 must be all-inclusive of:

• Artist design fee  
• Fabrication and materials  
• Engineering, if required  
• Insurance  
• Transportation and delivery to Quincy, Illinois  
• Installation  

No additional fabrication funds will be available.

 Payment Structure

• 50 percent ($7,500) upon execution of contract  
• 50 percent ($7,500) upon delivery and successful installation  

Final payment is contingent upon full installation and project completion by August 31.

Finalist Honorarium

After initial review, 2 to 4 finalist artists will be selected to develop formal concept proposals. Each finalist will receive a $300 honorarium upon submission of refined sketches, narrative, and detailed budget.

Closing Statement

As Illinois commemorates 250 years of the American story, Quincy reflects on a defining chapter of its own identity. On this riverfront, courage crossed water. On this shore, individuals risked everything for freedom and for one another.

This sculpture will stand as a lasting reminder that freedom was not inevitable. It was pursued, defended, and carried forward by people of extraordinary bravery and conviction.

We invite Illinois artists to help us give form to that legacy.

Application Requirements

Submission Requirements

• Statement of interest  
• Concept narrative  
• Preliminary sketches or references  
• Preliminary budget  
• Resume or CV  
• 3 to 5 examples of prior work  
• References

Eligibility Criteria

Artist Eligibility

The selected artist must:

• Live in the State of Illinois  
• Work in Illinois  
• File Illinois state taxes  

Documentation verifying Illinois residency and taxpayer status will be required prior to contract execution.

Selection Criteria

• Artistic excellence  
• Conceptual strength and thematic alignment  
• Feasibility within budget and timeline  
• Experience with outdoor public sculpture  
• Cultural and historical sensitivity