Unicorn Called Reparations from the collection of Arts New Orleans

Unicorn Called Reparations, 2023

My vision for the New Orleans East intersection of Crowder and Lake Forest Boulevards consists of a large cast bronze sculpture mounted on a cement base at the far-end of a triangular greenspace used for foot traffic. The sculpture that sits atop of the base is a complex, modular formation of geometric shapes that converge to form a Unicorn. The Unicorn shape with it’s powerful stance and striking presence will be used to articulate a perception of community change fashioned around the idea of reparations for descendants of slavery. The comparison of rarity between the sighting of a mythical creature such as a Unicorn and the concept of reparations evoke a similar sense of cynicism. The majority of the East New Orleans demographic is potentially connected to the African-American ancestral chain of families that were affected by the inequities and physical trauma of deep-south chattel slavery. The aftermath of chattel slavery in this region echoes throughout the contemporary culture. Social economic inequities are noticeable in this area and in need of renewal. This sculpture will serve as a recognition of truth, freedom, fairness, and a celebration of the descendants of the survivors of slavery. Simultaneously, it will also provide a space of beauty, reflection, and fantasy for the community as a whole. The Unicorn as an object will also activate the imaginations of the youngest residents of the area and serve as a landmark that reminds the community of this dark chapter of history while providing solutions to the current economic inequities that can be addressed through reparations.

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About the artist

John Barnes

American

b. 1971

John Barnes was born in the community of Bogalusa, Louisiana. When he was four, his family moved to Baton Rouge, where the public school system provided him with his earliest introduction to artmaking. Throughout his youth, he was drawing, but didn’t really imagine himself as an artist until he attended Southern A&M University as an art major. Barnes also attended Memphis College of Art for graduate study where he was awarded a Master’s of Fine Art degree in Sculpture. He began his academic career in New Orleans at Dillard University where he currently directs the Visual Arts program.

Barnes' work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and also in juried international biennials. His work is primarily wood, which he constructs into assemblages. Inspiration for his work is based on New Orleans and the Delta region as a whole. It is also influenced by local news reports that highlight issues such as gentrification, income inequity, racism, violence, and justice.