Artist Phree has shared details from a recent public art presentation in Roxbury that brought together poetry, light, and local history around the “Big Head” sculpture, formally known as Eternal Presence. The event took place Wednesday night and centered on a large-scale illumination that transformed the sculpture into an active site of storytelling and reflection.
Phree was invited to create and perform an original poetic work written specifically for the installation. The piece, titled “Unmonumented,” is structured as a three-part poem and was developed to align with the themes and visual language of the projection. One segment of the poem was featured during the illumination, integrating spoken word with light-based visuals in real time.
The project was led by Jeff and the Illuminus team, who curated the visual presentation and coordinated the collaboration between artists. The installation also involved the Museum of the National Center of African American Artists, which continues to steward and activate the space surrounding the sculpture as a cultural landmark in the Roxbury community.
By giving Eternal Presence a narrative voice, the presentation positioned the sculpture not only as a physical monument but as a living site of memory and cultural continuity. The event highlighted how contemporary artists can engage with public art to extend its meaning beyond form, using language and light to connect past, present, and community experience.
The Roxbury installation reflects a broader approach to public art that emphasizes participation, historical awareness, and collective presence. Through projects like this, artists and institutions continue to explore how monuments can be reinterpreted and activated, ensuring that shared spaces remain relevant and responsive to the communities they represent.
