COLLECTION | The Welcome Space

Artist Sedrick Huckaby grew up in the Highland Hills neighborhood and, as a well-respected artist, he is treasured as one of their own.  Recently, a series of portraits by the artist titled The 99% – Highland Hills was acquired by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth.  The series features the drawn likenesses and words of Huckaby’s neighbors, which he captured by engaging with each face-to-face and asking if he could draw them while having a conversation.  With a strong connection to the Highland Hills area in a very public and permanent way, the neighborhood wanted to honor the artist by commissioning him to design a creative set of benches for their community center.

The Welcome Space by artist Sedrick Huckaby, located at the Highland Hills Community Center, features two outdoor benches which appear as couches covered by quilts. A welcoming gesture, the benches seat visitors among the excellent patchwork of  portraits that represent community members who have graced the neighborhood over the years. The sitting area also recalls the African American artistic legacy of quilting and hand-made craft while alluding to ideals of family and home. Its jubilant color reflects the celebratory palette of many traditional African cultures while acknowledging the quilted past of the community. The portraits feature people of different ages and genders to represent the community at large and also include institutions such as East Saint Paul Baptist Church, New Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, and Highland Hills Missionary Baptist Church, overall commemorating the neighborhood’s history and heritage.

Best known for his drawings and paintings, Sedrick Huckaby collaborated with mosaic artist Julie Richie and multi-media artist Christine Adame to complete this project. Each quilt piece creates a section 12 inches or smaller, and underlying concrete benches were sculpted to emulate the soft draping and folds of fabric.

This public art project was funded by PACS Gas Lease revenue and dedicated to the City of Fort Worth on July 23, 2019.