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Rexdale sculptor commemorates ‘allyship’ with first Black historical monument in the city’s park

Original Story from CTV News

Read about the initial unveiling of the monument from the Toronto News Release

 

Toronto visual storyteller, Quentin VerCetty wants his sculpture – the first of its kind – to spur community allyship for black people and generate further change. (Macdonell, 2022)



In July of 2021, Mayor John Tory unveiled what is said to be the first permanent monument dedicated to a Black historical figure. Forged in bronze at Joshua Glover Park in Etobicoke is a sculpture of the park’s namesake -- Joshua Glover. This sculpture by Quentin VerCetty, a Black artist, storyteller and educator who was born and raised in Rexdale, commemorates abolitionist figure Joshua Glover.



​​Seeing the sculpture’s first year of Black History Month, VerCetty hopes that people can continue to be reminded of ‘community allyship’.


“There’s so many people who helped him to get to where he was. It’s not like he got himself free on his own. It’s through the community of Wisconsin, the community of the abolitionists of Toronto, the Montgomery family, ” says VerCetty to CTV news.


Glover’s life and history helped propel the movement to end slavery, and tells the story of Torontonians coming together to celebrate his legacy. Glover escaped to Canada from the United States through the Underground to Canada through the Underground Railroad in 1854. After settling in Lambton Mills, Etobicoke, he married and worked at Montgomery’s Inn for 30 years.


More info on Joshua Glover’s life story can be read here.


The Work, Motivation and Effort behind the Sculpture

VerCetty, 31, grew up in Rexdale and was first introduced to Glover’s inspiring life by his mother as a boy. “I was so fascinated that this Black man lived in my neighbourhood and essentially helped to unite a community,” VerCetty explained. (Macdonell, 2022)


The piece took VerCetty two months to make using 3D technology and digital sculpting, before adding details like wrinkles and scars. With no existing photographs of Glover, he had to rely on written references and composite drawings to put the finished product together. (Macdonell, 2022)


The sculpture itself was conceived through a lens of Afro-futurism, which Vercetty looks at as a way to learn about the past to inform the present and future to heal, hence the reason for the cyborg arm. While creating the sculpture, VerCetty tried to find small ways to incorporate the different transitions of Glover’s life that helped shape him. (Macdonell, 2022)


“The flower in his hat is all about him recognizing that he was more than his condition. More than his circumstances. The flower represents the blooming of his mind, representing his imagination. Change cannot happen if you cannot imagine something different.” (Macdonell, 2022)

The Artist Behind the Sculpture


VerCetty is an award-winning visual storyteller, art educator and graduate of Ontario College of Art and Design University. His work uses Afro-futurism to address issues of representation, immigration and decolonization. Through his work he hopes to engage minds and inspire hearts to help to make the world a better place.


“We now have the first, which is Joshua Glover, but I dare say that there are going to be many more. It’s a matter of time. A matter of recognition, a matter of understanding the contributions that Blacks have made in this city.” - VerCetty (Macdonell, 2022)

In 2015, VerCetty established VerCetty Made It Studios, a fine arts and project focused entity that manages and promotes his professional works.


If you want to learn more about VerCetty, the artist behind the sculpture, check out this interview published by Carnegie Hall.

 

References

City of Toronto. (2021, July 30). Mayor John Tory unveils public art to commemorate abolitionist figure Joshua Glover. City of Toronto. Retrieved February 24, 2022, from https://www.toronto.ca/news/mayor-john-tory-unveils-public-art-to-commemorate-abolitionist-figure-joshua-glover/

Macdonell, B. (2022, February 2). Toronto sculptor hopes first black historical monument in city collection inspires 'community allyship'. Toronto. Retrieved February 23, 2022, from https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/toronto-sculptor-hopes-first-black-historical-monument-in-city-collection-inspires-community-allyship-1.5763964

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