A new art installation commemorating the enslaved individuals who lived and worked at Fort Defiance will be unveiled during a public dedication ceremony on Saturday, March 29th at 11:00 am.
The installation, created by artist Israel Solomon, a descendant of one of the plantation's enslaved workers, serves as a testament to the profound impact these individuals had on the economic foundation of both the Lenoir family and Caldwell County.
Israel Solomon is a visual artist with a studio practice based in Indianapolis, IN. At an early age he was interested in creating. Israel began drawing pictures of his favorite cartoon characters, super heroes, star wars characters, and sneakers during his adolescence and that curiosity continued throughout his life. In high school, he took many art classes as a way to express himself, and eventually went to college to become an art educator at Ball State University. Israel earned a nomination for student of the year for Ball State’s art department in 2002, and won the award for drawing of the year as well.
Eventually Israel’s interest in art and drawing turned into painting, and he has been practicing and developing this craft for over ten years. As he began to display his artwork in exhibitions around Indianapolis, he continued to grow as an artist and developed a unique style that has often been compared to cubism. Israel also obtained a Master’s degree in Art Education in the year 2019 from Marian University. He has utilized his education to teach and mentor a variety of students and other artists within his community.
Israel has worked with a variety of groups and organizations such as Gainbridge Fieldhouse, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Major League Soccer, Starbucks, and many others. In addition his work has been acquired by groups such as Lilly, the Indiana State Museum, Eskenazi Hospital, and IU McKinley law school. Israel’s goal is to continue growing his craft as a professional artist, and to gain more opportunities to share his work nationally.
Artist Statement:
"It is an honor to be awarded the opportunity to create a body of work that celebrates the ancestors of Fort Defiance. When presented with this project, I wanted to ensure the work that I produced was based on the realities of what slavery was for Black America, but also wanted to reflect the resilience and beauty of black culture; which is a theme that many of my works are inspired by. Being made aware that I have family heritage and roots from this plantation, I know that family, togetherness, and faith were a part of the people of Fort Defiance. I believe this because I understand the love that our family shares to this day. These themes are portrayed within the work, along with the reality of sorrow, pain, and heartbreak that comes from our history. Families being split up and sold, over-exhaustion, and mourning loved ones gone too soon are coupled with mentorship, faith, and perseverance. It is my hope that this work is a reminder of the challenges that our ancestors survived through, but also honors their lives, the struggles that they overcame, and their descendents that live on to this day and continue to break barriers while prospering."
