Freedom. Democracy. Human Rights. Compassion. These admirable 21st century ideals inspired the creation of the early 19th century obelisk monument in the Plaza de la Constitucion, the country's oldest public park (dating back to 1575) in the country's oldest continuously settled European town which celebrates its 450th anniversary this September... Saint Augustine, Florida. Commemorating the Spanish Constitution of 1812, the majestic white obelisk is a testament to the legacy of Spanish rule on the Eastern Seaboard from the 16-19th centuries -- a short period in history during which European settlers, free blacks, indentured servants and slaves settled these shores and came into contact with the indigenous peoples who were already in residence.
Fast forward to today's Saint Augustine, a cosmopolitan city of 14,000 which attracts over 6 million visitors annually who roam the picturesque cobblestone streets, visit the centuries-old historic sites and enjoy the cooling breezes off the Matanzas Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Spear headed by Caren Goldman, Rev. Ted Voorhees and James Vandeberg, cofounders of Compassionate St. Augustine, in 2013 the city of Saint Augustine became the 1st city in Florida to sign the International Charter for Compassion, a brainchild of interfaith leader Karen Armstrong. The following year, Saint Augustine's sister city, Aviles, Spain also signed the Charter and in so doing, the two cities became the world's 1st Compassionate Sister Cities. Signing charters and collecting accolades wasn't enough though, it was the ideals in the Spanish Constitution which inspired Compassionate St. Augustine member Joel Bagnal to visualize replicas of the obelisk spread throughout the city as public art to promote a legacy of compassion...Obelisk Art 450, a stunning new visual art statement in the nation's oldest city.
25 artists of international renown have created original art on 8 ½ foot wood and fiberglass obelisks to illustrate the diverse history of Saint Augustine and the ways in which the four original themes of 'Freedom, Democracy, Human Rights and Compassion' continue to resonate today. Unveiled on August, 20 at the Crisp-Ellert Art Museum on the Flagler College campus, these obelisks will be placed at historic sites in the city from October 2015 through January 2016 to "honor the past while lifting up a vision for the future" in the words of artist Warren Clark. Visitors to the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park will see the proud visage of Saturiwa, a Chief of the Timucua Indians, adorning Clark's obelisk, as well as the history of Fort Mose, the country's first free settlement of ex-slaves founded in 1738, and the story of the Minorcan indentured servants who found refuge from servitude in 1777. "This obelisk highlights the full theme of the Spanish Constitution of 1812 as it illustrates each of the four pillars in Saint Augustine history," says Clark, a prolific artist whose popular heritage stamp posters have been selected by the Florida Humanities Council as well as the Tourism Development Council. Another local artist, Jan Tomlinson Master, was sent to Aviles, Spain to participate in their version of the OA450 tribute to a shared history, while Aviles artist Pablo Hugo Rozada Vena traveled to Saint Augustine to decorate one of the 25 obelisks - a true international art exchange!
Not to miss out on the experience, 28 of St. Augustine's public, charter and parochial elementary school art departments each received 4-foot obelisks from Compassionate St. Augustine. Students participated in a curriculum "Compassion Through the Eyes of Children" centered on the four themes of the Spanish Constitution and then collaboratively painted their interpretation on their school's obelisk. Max Vinzant, the Otis Mason Elementary School art instructor who developed the OA450 curriculum, said, "We will strive to keep the fires of compassion alight in our classrooms and hope that kindness and awareness for the wellbeing of others will keep spreading..."
Saint Augustine's history also includes notable events during the Civil Rights Movement which were the final catalyst to passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The footprints of Andrew Young are enshrined in a 25-foot segment of pavement in the Plaza de la Constitucion to commemorate his 1964 visit to the city at the request of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Across the street is the famous Woolworth counter where four brave teenagers protested against segregation. The city's checkered past encompasses heart-breaking moments of both joy and sorrow, but Compassionate St. Augustine's goal is not to revive the pain of the past, but to lift up examples of people who acted on their visions for freedom, democracy, human rights and compassion and through awareness, advocacy and action help transform a city into a loving, welcoming community. "The arc of the moral universe is long," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "But it bends toward justice."
Compassionate St. Augustine website
CycleHere Media video about the OA450
Video of Saint Augustine in Compassionate Cities Documentary by filmmaker Bob Fleck