SALEM — A life-sized bronze memorial honoring Salem State’s first African American graduate, Charlotte Forten Grimké, was unveiled this week at her namesake Charlotte Forten Park to celebrate the life of the historic abolitionist, educator, writer, poet, translator, and women’s right activist.
The statue, titled The Moving Spirit of Love, was created by artist Ai Qiu of Hopen of Humanity Memorial Inc., with input and assistance from the City’s Public Art Commission and the Charlotte Fortner Memorial Project Advisory Group. Over the last five years, the groups gathered community input on the process and determined what shape the memorial should take — ultimately deciding on Qiu’s design after a robust community review process.
“I’m so proud that Salem will soon unveil the sculpture of such a significant figure in our city and our nation’s history,” Mayor Dominick Pangallo said. “Celebrating Charlotte Forten Grimke’s legacy through this public art installation reflects our shared value of education, equity, and the diversity of voices, stories, and lived experiences in our community.
“Through this exciting moment and lasting monument, we’ll continue to tell the story of Salem and all of its chapters, including that of an important and influential woman who helped shape this community into the great place it is today. Our city must continue to be a leader in elevating Black histories and voices, including through our public spaces and public art.”
The project was initiated after the park site was redeveloped in 2017 and dedicated as Charlotte Forten Park in 2019. After years of engagement efforts around the park and proposals for a permanent memorial, a project advisory was formed in fall of 2022 to assist with drafting a Call for Artists.
The bronze statue of Forten is historic in many ways, said Regina Zaragoza Frey, Salem’s director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and member of the Charlotte Forten Advisory Group.
“It marks Salem’s first statue of a Black woman, celebrating her life, legacy, and the hope she inspires for the future,” Frey said. “It is also the first statue in Salem created by a woman of color, artist Ai Qiu, of Asian descent. Her work, Moving Spirit of Love, symbolically embodies hope and justice.
“Seeing the clay model for the first time was breathtaking, and now witnessing its transformation into a permanent installation of a bronze sculpture is a significant moment in Salem’s journey toward racial equity.”
A dedication ceremony will be held at the park on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m., with a rain date the following day.
Local theater company History Alive Inc. and actress Samanth Searles will be in attendance, in character as Forten, to present poems and stories from her time in Salem.
Some of Forten’s writings will also be on display in the park in November with a hand-printed banner created by artist Mitchel Ahern. A full schedule of events will be made available closer to the event.
Email updates can be signed up for here: bit.ly/CFPMSignUp. To learn more about Charlotte Forten and the project, visit salemma.gov/public-art-commission/pages/charlotte-forten-memorial-project
Michael McHugh can be contacted at mmchugh@northofboston.com or at 781-799-5202