Enslaved Africans' Rain Garden (Yonkers, New York)

Enslaved Africans Rain Garden is comprised of four life-size bronze statues and is located along the Hudson River.

I'Satta, a bronze sculpture of a young African woman dressed in eighteenth-century dress.

Bibi represents the elders of enslaved Africans. Braille on her apron reads: “I believe in freedom.”

Themba holds a tri-corner hat in his hands. Braille on his garment reads: “faith, hope, trust.”

Two bronze seated statues, Sola and Olumide, who represent two young children who embrace each other.

Dublin Core

Title

Enslaved Africans' Rain Garden (Yonkers, New York)

Subject

Subject (Topic)
Enslaved persons
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site (Yonkers, N.Y.)
Public art
Public sculpture
New York (State)--Hudson River
New York (State)--Yonkers
Slavery--New York (State)

Subject (Object Type)
Commemorative sculpture

Description

The public art project including a rain garden is located along the Hudson River in Yonkers. It is comprised of four life-size bronze statues: I'Satta; Themba; Bibi; and Sola and Olumide. The figures commemorate enslaved Africans who resided at the Philipse Manor Hall. I'Satta is a bronze sculpture of a young African woman dressed in eighteenth-century dress. In her left hand, she carries a string of four fish, while she uses her right hand to balance the wood-slat bucket on her head. On the back of her dress is a schematic of a slave ship, a map of Africa, Adinkra symbols, and text that reads "Angola-Madagascar." The bottom of her skirt includes an image of man's face drowning as a ship sails off. On the side of her skirt, the artist included a Braille inscription: "My soul looks back, lest I forget."

Bibi represents the elders of enslaved Africans. As she appears to stride forward, Bibi wears a large brim hat and carries a large stick. Braille on her apron reads: “I believe in freedom.” In the folds of her skirt, there is a relief sculpture of a little girl. The sign on the hem of the skirt reads: “FOR SALE A likely… NEGRO WENCH Seven to eight years of age. Has had smallpox. For information, enquire at…” Themba holds a tri-corner hat in his hands as he gazes off into the distance. Braille on his garment reads: “faith, hope, trust.” He stands upon a map of the western world, indicating the routes that slave ships took around the world. Sola and Olumide are sculptures of two young children who embrace each other. On Olumide's back are bas-relief images of African masks, art that is indigenous to their homeland and was seen commercially in America until well after the third quarter of the 20th century.

See video about the Enslaved Africans' Rain Garden: https://youtu.be/F4loZRMtCrs.

Creator

Bagwell, Vinnie, 1957-

Source

Photographs by Renée Ater

Date

June 19, 2022

Contributor

The City of Yonkers; New York Council of the Arts; National Endowment for the Arts; ArtsWestchester; ConEdison; Entergy; New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Yonkers Board of Education

Rights

City of Yonkers, 40 Sout Broadway, Yonkers, New York, 10701, United States

Format

JPEG

Language

English

Type

Visual Arts-Sculpture

Coverage

20 Water Grant Street, Yonkers, New York, 10701, United States

Extent

Varied

Medium

Bronze

Bibliographic Citation

Aiello, Tony. "Enslaved Africans Rain Garden Unveiled in Yonkers." CBS New York. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/enslaved-africans-rain-garden-unveiled-in-yonkers/.

Enslaved African's Rain Garden: A Public Art Iniative. Website, 2022. Accessed February 17, 2025. http://enslavedafricansraingarden.org.

Rights Holder

Renée Ater

Still Image Item Type Metadata

Original Format

Sculpture

Physical Dimensions