On view at the Shepherd grounds is The Mothership Connection by British-Trinidadian artist Zak Ové. The sculpture seeks to reveal the often-times invisible histories of enslaved Africans and indentured laborers in the development of historic buildings in the United States alongside African and African Diasporic architecture and design.

The base of this 26-foot rocket-shaped sculpture references the Djenné mud mosque of Mali. The trunk is adorned with luminous tribal masks and etched Veve symbols, found within African Diasporic culture in Haiti. The upper layers echo masonic architecture with columns and triangles and a ring of Cadillac lights referencing the Motor City, Western design, and consumerism. The final layer mimics the arches of The Capitol Building, in Washington, D.C. and at the very top sits an enlarged female Mende tribal mask. An internal light bestows a radiant pulse and heartbeat, The Mothership Connection is a literal and enduring beacon to the future.

A reference to Parliament Funkadelic’s iconic concept album Mothership Connection, this work is a reference to a future where Black people are included in all possible frames of reference.