"Titled "Migration," the project marks the second phase of a broader cultural initiative that began with the landmark restoration of Harlem Renaissance sculptor Richmond Barthé's "Exodus and Dance" frieze. The restoration received the 2025 Moses Award for Preservation Projects from the New York Landmarks Conservancy and the 2025 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award from the Preservation League of New York State. The heritage walk honors the "Great Migration" and features 35 illuminated steel sculptures ranging from six to 12 feet high, spread across the 16-acre campus. The installation amplifies the voices, memories, and aspirations of Kingsborough residents while honoring the recently restored, monumental 8-foot-by-80-foot frieze, installed in 1941."
"The design team, led by New York City-based artists Ifeoma Ebo and Jerome Haferd, alongside Pedro Cruz Cruz and Violet Greenberg, sought input from Kingsborough residents, local artists from the Fulton Art Fair - including the late artist-in-residence Larry Weekes - lighting designers, and cultural historians to ensure the work reflected authentic community voices. Participants shared memories, drawings, and stories, shaping the inscriptions on the sculptures. These include oral histories from residents, historic accounts of Barthé's life and work, residents' personal memories of the Exodus and Dance frieze, and quotes on community, extended family, and resilience."
"All sculptures, fabricated in Brooklyn, feature illustrations inspired by Egyptian and other diasporic motifs as well as Barthé's own artistic vocabulary. Some include seating elements to invite engagement and reflection. Each structure has integrated lighting, illuminating pathways and"
A permanent outdoor heritage walk called "Migration" was unveiled at Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights. The project is a second phase following restoration of Richmond Barthé's "Exodus and Dance" frieze, which won preservation awards. The walk honors the Great Migration through 35 illuminated steel sculptures, six to 12 feet tall, across a 16-acre campus. The installation centers resident voices, memories, and aspirations while referencing the restored 8-by-80-foot frieze. A design team led by Ifeoma Ebo and Jerome Haferd incorporated input from residents, Fulton Art Fair artists, lighting designers, and historians. Participants contributed memories and drawings that shaped sculptural inscriptions. All sculptures were fabricated in Brooklyn and include Egyptian and diasporic motifs, seating elements, and integrated lighting.
Read at Brooklyn Paper
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