Bruce Beasley’s UNITY sculpture celebrates its 10th year anniversary
News & Sports Editor
Bruce Beasley’s Sculpture, UNITY, celebrated its 10th year anniversary this summer. Ten years ago, in the summer of 2014, Beasley created this sculpture that has rested in front of the Fremont Main Library since May 21st, 2015.
Beasley, an accomplished sculptor with pieces displayed in the Guggenheim, the Musée National d’Art Moderne, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, said in a 2018 interview with the Santa Cruz Sentinel, “[UNITY] represents the synergy of Fremont—a combination of residents, elected government, city staff, businesses and physical environment.”
Longtime Fremont resident Cory Call responded to Beasley’s definition. “I was living here [when it was built]. It’s nice to know a deeper understanding of its significance; I drive past it almost every day, so I appreciate it,” said Call.
Beth Buchanan, an employee at Fremont Library who was present during the sculpture’s placing, said, “I’ve never really thought about his definition. Fremont is such a diverse community—I always think of [the] interlocking rings [as] unifying the different cultures.”
“I remember people gathering there from different creeds [and] religions to support the structure, I noticed that that’s a meeting place for a lot of political agendas and things of that nature,” said Call.
“We’ve noticed that it’s become a place where people do protests now. We don’t have a lot of [those] kind[s] of places in Fremont. And it’s all kinds of protests. People from other countries that are now living here are protesting,” said Buchanan. “It’s very visible, this is city property, park property, and it is an open space so it’s a good place to meet. It’s good that we have a place where people go to do that; that is unifying as well.”
Buchanan, who was involved in Fremont’s social media introduction of UNITY, said, “I felt a unity statue next to the library is,” Buchanan paused. “Dead on.”
“Everybody should feel comfortable here. We have different programs around—different cultures—all the time. So I kind of feel like it matches the library. I don’t know [if] that was ever the intention,[but] it matches our space,” said Buchanan.
Bruce Beasley’s UNITY lies in front of the Fremont Library on the corner of Stevenson Blvd and Paseo Padre Parkway. In a 2018 interview with the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Beasley said, “[UNITY] represents the synergy of Fremont—a combination of residents, elected government, city staff, businesses and physical environment.” (Photo Credit: Daniel Davis (12))
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