This year, HUP celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr with a special painting. Entitled “Dreams of 2020,” it depicts civil rights leaders in history and images of this past year’s Black Lives Matter protests. It was created by Von Combs, a 25-year-old Philadelphia native.
“This piece is a direct reflection of how Dr. King’s message is still relevant in 2020 and beyond. This year’s riots, protests, and the overall divide in the American people all echoed the climate of the Civil Rights movement,” Combs said.
The painting shows how the year “reignited the flames of justice and the call for equity that Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for,” said Denise Statham, administrative chaplain in Pastoral Care. While it hung on display by HUP’s cafeteria, chaplains were stationed by the artwork to speak with staff and visitors about the artwork’s themes and the feelings they’re evoking.
“The painting remind us that we have work to do. It’s an opportunity to share perspectives and inspire us to dream together instead of hardening hearts.”