The bright blue installation “The Conversation Sculpture” by artist Musa Hixson received its dedication at Pelham’s Juneteenth celebration Saturday in Wolfs Lane Park, after the massive steel sculpture was moved to the village from Brooklyn.

Hixson said his inspiration for the piece was to take the organic shape of the leaf and paint it blue in relation to the sky.

“The concept is having something in the park that people can utilize and being part of how people communicate in public spaces like parks,” Hixston said. “It’s something interesting visually, but you can also sit in the sculpture, and because of this circular organic shape, when you sit in it, the seats are facing each other. Therefore, it promotes dialogue and conversation.” 

Initially, the structure was in Herbert Von King Park in Brooklyn, where the Brooklyn artist is based, and moving the piece required a great deal of forethought. Hixson and Charlotte Monquin, Pelham Art Center executive director, had been reaching out to one another discussing the piece for more than two years and have known each other professionally for eight. 

“It took some time for planning and budgeting purposes to figure out because this is a 900-pound steel sculpture that needs a cement foundation, and it’s a lot of attention logistically to move a public art piece of this scale around,” Monquin said. “So I am actually very happy for the support of the Pelham art council because they were very helpful in making this come to fruition,” 

The Village of Pelham Council on the Arts organized the dedication, making it the first official event organized by the new council. Francille Mullen, vice-chairwoman of the council, said, “Many of the people on the council hadn’t even met each other until June.”

Village of Pelham Mayor Chance Mullen spoke with other Pelham figures attending, including Superintendent of Schools Dr. Cheryl Champ. Pelham Memorial High School students took their own time to create art pieces that spoke to the holiday, while Pelham residents attended this event focused on the importance of African American culture.

Emlyn Tavaris, an art teacher in the district, was “the amazing mastermind behind the exhibit,” said Mullen.