The Light of Truth Documentary: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells

Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at
The Epiphany Center for the Arts
201 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607

Doors: 5:00 pm for Golden Hour
7:00 – 8:30 pm, Epiphany Hall

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A man known for making monuments and a monument himself among the world’s most creative icons, Chicago sculptor Richard Hunt completed more public sculptures than any other artist in the country. His sculptural works honor and memorialize some of Chicago’s most historically significant figures that will inspire generations, at a time when other monuments are being examined or dismantled for their injustice and falsehoods.

The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument for Ida B. Wells is a 60 minute documentary about the creation of The Ida B. Wells National Monument by renowned Chicago sculptor Richard Hunt honoring civil rights activist, journalist, and suffragist Ida B. Wells. The film weaves together Hunt’s life and fabrication of the monument with the story of Wells’ heroic fight for justice. The sculpture takes its name “The Light of Truth” from a quote by Ida B. Wells-Barnett, “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” We learn what motivated her to become the woman who fought for truth and justice, leading the way and shining the light for the rest of us to follow. It was unveiled in 2021 by The Ida B. Wells Commemorative Art Committee.

A Q&A will follow the film, with the filmmaker Rana Segal, producers Laurie Little and Vincent Singleton, Co-Chair of the Ida B. Wells Commemorative Art Committee Anthony Rogers, and Eric Stephenson, Richard Hunt’s Studio Manager and friend of 22 years.

The presentation is a “pay-what-you-can” program with proceeds supporting the completion of The Light of Truth documentary.