In Chicago, a lone statue of George Washington is now surrounded by ‘Other Washingtons,’ which take the form of blue flags bearing the faces of Black Americans who bear the same last name. The project, conceptualized by artist and architect Amanda Williams, aims to represent ‘a living archive’ of community memory and make space for stories that are less widely known.

Chicago Monuments Project

The ‘Other Washingtons’ project is part of the Chicago Monuments Project, a city initiative to commission new monuments or respond to existing ones. The project has received $6.8 million from the Mellon Foundation and includes eight commissions across the city, such as markers to commemorate the victims of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 and a monument to honor Native voices.

The ‘Other Washingtons’ project asks community members to think of the Washingtons that matter to them, with flags and accompanying banners telling their stories. The project will rotate out annually for three years, allowing the community to take ownership of the stories and making the site relevant again.

Community Involvement

The project’s design is modeled after the flags that surround the Washington Monument in the nation’s capital, and the colors chosen reference a color palette developed by George Washington Carver. The project has been well-received by the community, with many of those honored and their families present at the opening event.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.