Installation of MLK Memorial ‘The Embrace’ Underway in Boston Common
Sourced from Boston Business Journal
November 30, 2022
Installation of “The Embrace,” a 20-foot-high sculpture honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, began Wednesday in Boston Common, marking a milestone in a years-long effort by organizers, artists and donors to memorialize the civil rights leaders and advance racial equity and community.
On Wednesday morning, cranes and construction crews carefully heaved massive bronze and stainless steel pieces that will be assembled to form interlocking arms symbolizing the hug shared by the Kings — who met in Boston as students and marched for civil rights here — after the reverend won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
Led by nonprofit Embrace Boston — formerly King Boston — the $9 million effort received donations from many of the top charities, businesses and institutions in the region. The organizers in April broke ground on the “Freedom Plaza” where the sculpture will stand, featuring a curved granite wall and benches for visitors.
The sculpture itself, by artist Hank Willis Thomas and MASS Design Group, took 17 months to complete at one of the world’s largest contemporary art fabricators, the Walla Walla Foundry in Washington state, according to Sam Giarratani, a public art manager who worked closely with Thomas on the design process.
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Katie Pastrick
As MGAC's Senior Communications Manager, Katie is focused on the firm's external communication efforts.
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