Earlier this year, when the Trump administration removed slavery exhibits from a historic park in Philadelphia, the city responded with a lawsuit against the federal government. Among the exhibits was an artwork depicting Ona Judge, who escaped enslavement from George and Martha Washington. As the legal proceedings continue, a cultural festival in Philadelphia is set to reveal a large-scale temporary monument next month, celebrating Ona Judge’s 1796 escape from America’s first presidential family.
The installation will be part of ArtPhilly, a festival initiated by Philadelphia Museum of Art trustee Katherine Sachs. New York-based conceptual artist indira allegra will present a trio of schooner sails on May 28 at Spruce Street Harbor, symbolizing Judge’s flight to freedom. Titled ‘Sail Through This to That,’ the artwork coincides with the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, a period marked by tensions as art institutions navigate the portrayal of historical narratives.
The sails also reflect the vibrant style of Rem’mie Fells, a Philadelphia transgender woman who aspired to be a fashion designer before her tragic murder in 2020. Allegra conceived of the neon sails years ago, inspired by the link between Judge’s work as a seamstress and Fells’s expression through fashion. ArtPhilly curator Rob Blackson noted that allegra was inspired by a tour of transformative sites in Philadelphia, leading to the intertwining of Judge and Fells’s histories in this poignant work.
Allegra found a powerful connection between Judge and Fells through the waterways surrounding Philadelphia. Judge was one of George Washington’s enslaved individuals, who escaped in 1796 while the Washingtons were on vacation, fleeing via a ship to New Hampshire. In a parallel tragedy, Fells’s remains were discovered in the Schuylkill River. The installation’s abstract textile design echoes the bold colors associated with Fells.
The project took eight months, with support from the Fabric Workshop Museum and local collaborators. Allegra spent time in Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ archives and connected deeply with Fells’s mother, Terri Edmonds. The title ‘Sail Through This to That’ is drawn from Lucille Clifton’s poem ‘Blessing the Boats.’ Allegra aims to inspire reflection on love and kindness through this work, which will be displayed until July 30 during the US semiquincentennial.
