Congaree Vista Guild installs new sculpture
February 14, 2022
The Congaree Vista Guild has announced the installation of Motherhood, a new sculpture by Nora Valdez, on the corner of Lady and Gadsden Streets in the heart of the Congaree Vista. The project was facilitated by One Columbia for Arts and Culture.
The sculpture, carved from Indiana limestone, represents all mothers – working mothers, immigrant mothers, single mothers – and their strength in holding families together while staying firmly rooted in their determination. Sculptor Nora Valdez is an international award-winning artist originally from Argentina, but currently residing in Boston, Massachusetts.
“My sculptures of people do not have facial features,” said Valdez. “Going beyond suggesting any specific face as a representation of beauty (or measure of value) for women, my work challenges the viewer to see the faceless woman as every woman. Woman as an archetype. Woman as a force. The concept of woman as mother is one that everyone can connect to. The ideal of mother as love and nurture and protection is universal, especially in the face of challenge.”
A dedication event will be hosted as part of the Congaree Vista Guild’s 30th annual Artista Vista, which takes place April 22-24, 2022.
About One Columbia for Arts and Culture
One Columbia for Arts and Culture is Columbia’s local arts agency that works to promote collaboration among citizens, the cultural community, and city government through celebrations of Columbia’s arts and historic treasures. Its goal is to enhance the quality of life for our residents, attract tourist dollars to our city, and further build our vibrant community. The organization was recognized with the Governor’s Award for the Arts in 2022, the highest honor for arts in South Carolina. Visit the One Columbia website (http://onecolumbiasc.com) for a continuously updated master list of art and cultural activities occurring throughout the city.
About the Congaree Vista Guild
The Congaree Vista Guild is a nonprofit, membership-based organization charged with seeing that Columbia’s Vista, which is an official South Carolina Cultural District, is a vibrant symbol of our progressive Southern city. Led by a 14-member Board of Directors representing a variety of business sectors, the Congaree Vista Guild and its members are dedicated to making the Vista the place of choice for shopping, dining and entertainment, a national and international tourist destination, and a high-energy urban environment to live and grow businesses.
