The sculpture of an athlete holding their arms up in victory stands out at Horizon Park overlooking Belleville Lake in downtown Belleville, Michigan.
Hands Held High was created entirely of steel by nationally-recognized sculptor Gregory Mendez, whose outdoor sculptures are exhibited across the United States.
When I first saw the Hands Held High sculpture, it made me think of the past couple years and all the trials, challenges, and sadness we’ve had during the COVID pandemic.
The sculpture uplifted me and gave me hope the pandemic will end soon.
There’s no plaque or information about the sculpture in the park, so I did some research to learn more about its background.
I discovered the sculpture was purchased by the Belleville Area Council for the Arts in August 2018 and donated to the City of Belleville as a permanent sculpture at Horizon Park.
