Award-winning artist and educator Quentin VerCetty has been selected to design a memorial sculpture of escaped U.S. slave Joshua Glover, who fell in love and was adopted by Etobicoke residents.

VerCetty, who is from Rexdale, was introduced by Mayor John Tory following a selection process at Montgomery’s Inn on August 13.

“His (Glover’s) story, both here and in the United States, helped to propel the abolitionist movement,” Tory said.

Glover escaped slavery in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1852, and eventually ended up in Racine, Wisconsin. In 1854, he was recaptured and taken to a Milwaukee jail. Thousands of residents protested at the jail, releasing Glover.

Through the Underground Railroad, he made his way to a boat that brought him to Ontario. He eventually settled in the Lambton Mills area of Etobicoke working for Thomas Montgomery, the owner of Montgomery’s Inn.

VerCetty said he is pleased to be selected for the meaningful and high-profile project.

“I was once told that a successful art piece is an art piece that contains a bit of the artist’s soul in it,” he said.

“People thought I made that story up and it was interesting because they always asked me, ‘Where’s the proof? Where are these stories in our history books?”

His bust shows the top half of Glover’s body with a cyborg-like right arm with shackles and on Glover’s left side he can be seen wearing a suit and holding books close to his chest.

VerCetty is a multidisciplinary visual storyteller and arts educator who is currently working on his Masters degree in Art Education at Concordia University with a focus on teaching Afrofuturism in underserved communities.

His art has been featured in numerous media outlets and publications in Japan, Haiti, Peru, Ghana, Australia, United Arab Emirate and France.

“Most of my work is done off research. Either my life or something I was exposed to and wanted to learn more about,” said Vercetty.  “It’s not about making money; it’s about making connections through this opportunity.”

Glover’s was selected for recognition by the Etobicoke Historical Society. His bust will be displayed in park named after him in the Dundas St. W., and Royal York Rd. area.