Swords Into Plowshares
Swords into Plowshares is our proposed design for a memorial site that will transform histories of harm into expressions of shared values and inclusive futures.
The statue of Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville was removed on July 10, 2021. Long contested as a symbol of the Confederacy and systemic racism, its removal followed years of legal battles and public debate, and the bronze was melted down for reuse.
That material now anchors Swords into Plowshares, an initiative led by the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, which brings together artists, designers, and community members to transform the former monument into new public art through a community-engaged process, including the public Recast/Reclaim exhibition of design competition semi-finalists.
MASS’s design proposal, led by Jha D Amazi—Principal of our Public Memory and Memorials Lab—and developed in partnership with artist Dana King, was selected from 32 applicants. In March 2026, we presented our concept proposal, ROOTED, at the opening of the Recast/Reclaim exhibition.
The design envisions Market Street Park as a new civic heart for Charlottesville. Drawing on the baobab tree as a point of reference—an enduring symbol of interconnection, resilience, and shared knowledge.
At its center is a 27-foot bronze structure designed to be inhabited and interactive. Seven elements form a circular gathering space, creating room for events, reflection, and everyday use. Open passageways and a central clearing are intended to support collective activity and ongoing community presence.
“Our baobab is not just a monumental form, but a shared, inhabitable place. With branches outstretched like arms, seven pillars in the round connect to the plaza below, rooting our actions and agency in place.”
Around this central space seasonal gardens, smaller gathering areas, and pathways informed by West African Adinkra geometries create a landscape that can support different forms of gathering. Community handprints embedded within the interior, along with a network of sculptural “fruit” and “seeds” distributed across the city, extend the project beyond a single site.
Visit Swords into Plowshares to learn more about the design competition, view the final proposed designs, and cast your vote!
