Stephen Hayes (American, b. 1983) Boundless, 2021, 11 Bronze Cast Figures, 16’ x 7.5’ x 3’
Collection of Cameron Art Museum, Photos by Alan Cradick
Boundless
A Public Sculpture by NC Artist Stephen Hayes Commemorating the United States Colored Troops and Their Fight for Freedom
Presented by
About the Project
North Carolina artist Stephen Hayes has fashioned this life-size bronze sculpture from the cast features of 11 African American men connected to the site and its story – USCT descendants, re-enactors, veterans, and community leaders. Boundless was unveiled November 13, 2021 and is on permanent view in the PNC USCT Park on the museum grounds. The sculpture is connected deeply to the community’s history, its present, and its future.
About the Artist
Stephen Hayes is the winner of the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art. He teaches in the department of Art and Art History at Duke University. Hayes’s work has been featured at the National Cathedral, Winston Salem State University, Duke University, CAM Raleigh, Rosa Parks Museum, African American Museum of Philadelphia, and Harvey B. Gantt Center, among others.
Photographs by Keith Isaacs
PNC USCT Sculpture Park
The PNC USCT Park is the only sculpture park in the nation
created to honor the United States Colored Troops and their fight for freedom.
Designed by LS3P, this award-winning park offers a place for quiet reflection and contemplation with corten steel benches and path lighting designed to symbolize the soldiers ongoing march towards freedom.
Location
Cameron Art Museum was the site of the Battle of Forks Road, a Civil War skirmish whose victory was won by the United States Colored Troops (USCT) and led to the fall of Wilmington. Their impact is significant, yet their story is virtually unknown.
Honoring the United States Colored Troops
February 1865, 1,800+ United States Colored Troops fought for 2 straight days on the grounds of what is now Cameron Art Museum. In November 2021, CAM erected a bronze sculpture by North Carolina artist Stephen Hayes of eleven USCT soldiers to honor the brave men who charged into fire for the preservation of this nation but more importantly, the freedom of themselves and all their loved ones still in bondage.
It took a combined community effort to excavate the land, comb through old military documents, and raise money to commission the artist and install the permanent installation of Boundless on our grounds.
To view a PDF documenting the names of the soldiers of the United States Colored Troops, click below.
Learn
Learn More About Boundless and the United States Colored Troops
Brick Pavers
Purchase a brick paver to help fund the creation of the
USCT Sculpture Park.
Donate
Boundless and the USCT Sculpture Park are made possible
in part by generous donations from the community.
Sponsor
Boundless sponsorships are available! Help us make the USCT Sculpture Park a reality.
Boundless Committee & Sponsors
Thank you to the Boundless Committee for their hard work in making this project possible and to our incredible sponsors.
Committee Members:
Chair – Carol Miller
Barbara Akinwole
Fred & Simone Allen
Ava Baker
Alma Brooks
Sheila Cannon-Santos
Renée Sander-Lawson
Primus Robinson
Our Sponsors:
HTR Foundation
Women’s Impact Network of New Hanover County
AARP North Carolina
Karen A. Bencke
Brunswick Civil War Round Table
City of Wilmington
Corning Incorporated
Joseph and Whitney Finley
Drs. William and Carol Malloy and Ms. Maxine Terry
Michael McCarley and Nancy Langevin
James and Kimberly Moore
Monteith Construction Corp.
nCino
New Hanover County
Col. (Ret.) Eric Terashima
Mike and Ellie Ryan
Jeanne Rotunda and Michael Weinberg
WECT
Walmart
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