The ''Harriet Tubman Memorial'', also known as ''Swing Low'', located in Manhattan in New York City, honors the life of abolitionist Harriet Tubman. The intersection at which it stands was previously a barren traffic island, and is now known as "Harriet Tubman Triangle". As part of its redevelopment, the traffic island was landscaped with plants native to New York and to Tubman's home state of Maryland, representing the land which she and her Underground Railroad passengers travelled across. The memorial was commissioned through the Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art program, and the development was managed by a multi-agency group consisting of representatives of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Department of Cultural Affairs, Department of Design and Construction and Department of Transportation. The memorial is a

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such ...

and Chinese granite portrait sculpture, and was created by sculptor

Alison Saar Alison Saar (born February 5, 1956) is a Los Angeles, California based sculptor, mixed-media, and installation artist. Her artwork focuses on the African diaspora and black female identity and is influenced by African, Caribbean, and Latin Ameri ...

. It was unveiled on November 13, 2008. Among those present at the unveiling ceremony were Parks and Recreation Commissioner

Adrian Benepe Adrian Benepe was the 14th Commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, serving in that role from February 4, 2002, to August 29, 2012, under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. During his tenure, he oversaw 7,000 parks' staff, the ex ...

, former Manhattan Borough President

C. Virginia Fields Clara Virginia Fields better known as C. Virginia Fields (née Clark; born August 6, 1945) is an American activist who served as Borough President of Manhattan. She was elected in 1997 and reelected in 2001, with her second term expiring at the ...

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a research library of the New York Public Library (NYPL) and an archive repository for information on people of African descent worldwide. Located at 515 Malcolm X Boulevard (Lenox Avenue) b ...

curator Christopher Moore, and Congressman Charles Rangel. The statue depicts Tubman striding forward despite roots pulling on the back of her skirt; these represent the roots of slavery. Her skirt is decorated with images representing the former slaves who Tubman assisted to escape. The base of the statue features illustrations representing moments from Tubman's life, alternated with traditional quilting symbols. In 2004, the traffic island and the statue received a Public Design Commission Award for Excellence in Design.

References

{{Public art in Manhattan Memorials to Harriet Tubman Monuments and memorials in Manhattan Monuments and memorials to victims of slavery in the United States Outdoor sculptures in Manhattan Tubman Sculptures of women in New York City Statues in New York City 2007 establishments in New York City