Unlearn Fear + Hate
is a community-driven cycle of artworks by Kurt Gohde and Kremena Todorova. Inspired by a need to address growing racial tensions in the United States, the project has promoted public dialog through temporary and permanent activations of the words "Unlearn Fear + Hate," from a commissioned poem by Frank X Walker, Kentucky's first African American Poet Laureate. It is an invitation for everyone to join the work of diminishing the fears we live with by acknowledging our shared humanity.
Unlearn Fear + Hate
was launched in the summer of 2016 with a smaller halo sculpture installed on the Upper Street side of the 21c Museum Hotel in Lexington. The project has engaged people locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally through more halos in several languages, 60-foot-long stencils, cross-stitches of the words "Unlearn Fear + Hate" in over 100 languages, and more. Kurt and Kremena have received 2 awards for this artwork-the Lexington Forum Spirit Award and the first Georgia Davis Powers Award, established by the Kentucky Council for the Social Studies.
The permanent sculpture at 201 West Short Street will measure nearly 23 feet in diameter. The result of a three-year partnership between Kurt and Kremena and LexArts, the legacy piece was fabricated by Amanda Matthews and Brad Connell of Prometheus Bronze Foundry & Custom Metal Fabrication.
Thanks to the generous collaboration of the corporate occupants at 201 W. Short Street, the sculpture will be mounted high on the west wall of their building. Pre-installation will begin on Sunday, August 18 and continue throughout the week. Actual installation of the piece will be on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25. Short Street will be temporarily closed during daylight hours on Sunday, August 18, Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25. The City of Lexington and the Lexington Farmers Market made considerable concessions to aid in the installation of the sculpture.
The fundraising effort for this legacy piece is nearly complete. Major support for the project comes from a National Endowment for the Arts ArtWorks grant, received and administered by LexArts. In addition to the NEA grant, funding was supported by the Blue Grass Community Foundation, Wilhite Construction, the Downtown Lexington Management District, the City of Lexington, Jim Gray, VisitLEX, Freeland Harris Consulting, and LexArts' Public Art Fund.
There remains, however, a $10,000 gap to the fundraising goal for Unlearn Fear + Hate. The public is invited and encouraged to make a crowd funding gift at:
An unveiling ceremony and dedication will be held at a later date.
Media inquiries:
Kurt Gohde
Artist
Kremena Todorova
Artist
Ellen A. 'Nan' Plummer
LexArts President & CEO
Nathan Zamarron
LexArts Community Arts Director
Amanda Matthews
Brad Connell
Prometheus Foundry
