"On Allison's Wings" was dedicated Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at Stockton Park. | Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville
Published on August 19, 2024 at 4:21 pm
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The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville dedicated a new public artwork Monday to honor the life of 15-year-old Allison Brundick Haramis.
The artwork, titled On Allison’s Wings, honors Allison and the work of the nonprofit organization formed in her memory, Angels for Allison.
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The Cultural Council joined representatives of the city and City Council, artist David Main and the Haramis family to dedicate the artwork in a ceremony at Stockton Park, along the St. Johns River in the Ortega neighborhood.
Allison passed away in a car accident April 17, 2009, in Jacksonville. Her family established Angels for Allison, a nonprofit that has helped over 1,000 families across Northeast Florida with financial assistance associated with funeral costs.
The sculpture is composed of a mixture of aluminum material and Corten steel. The Cultural Council said it embodies Allison’s youthful and joyful spirit, intertwined with her “profoundly powerful story.”
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“Public art is vital to the overall well-being and quality of life in our community,” Diana Donovan, executive director of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, said in a news release. “Pieces like On Allison’s Wings provide solace, peace and hope for all. This one-of-a-kind sculpture in Stockton Park will uphold her legacy and that of Angels for Allison long into the future.”
Drew Haramis, Allison’s mother and founder and board president of Angels for Allison, said: “Allison’s life, while much too short, will forever be honored and remembered through this sculpture. … Allison’s joy is beautifully represented through this work, and we hope this piece serves as a beacon of hope to families who have lost children.”
The Art in Public Places program aims to promote art and culture, local artists and create a sense of placemaking for all, while helping to drive the creative economy and economic impact to the city of Jacksonville.
The On Allison’s Wings artwork was championed by former City Council member Randy DeFoor, who has been instrumental in the advancement of public art in Jacksonville.
“Championing this project is one of the highlights of my time as a City Council member,” DeFoor said in the news release. “The loss of a child should never be experienced, but for those who have, I truly hope this artwork at Stockton Park brings peace. Allison’s legacy lives on through her mother and loved ones, and we know it will never be forgotten.”
Randy comes to Jacksonville from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, where as metro editor, he led investigative coverage of the Parkland school shooting that won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for public service. He has spent more than 40 years in reporting and editing positions in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Florida.
