“We should never forget.....
It is important that with each passing year as the attacks of 9/11 recede further into the past that we continue to inspire a tradition of paying tribute to the 9/11 victims, survivors and those who rose up in service in response to the attacks. “The Pillars of Hope offers our community a unique and special way to do that. We hope that visitors will find comfort and hope in each commemorative tile that is placed on the pillars. Each one represents a citizen paying tribute to those who serve” —Rita Arancibia, Arts for Hearts Founder, Volunteer Clarksville, Serve to Remember Days o f Service Organizer.

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— Quote Source

Pillars of HOPE Public Art Sculpture

Artist Rendition of Sculpture.

Coming soon to Veterans Plaza! The Arts and Heritage Development Council has commissioned sculptor Jim Diehr to create Pillars of Hope, an installation mimicking New York’s Twin Towers, to showcase hundreds of tiles painted by Clarksvillians to honor the victims and responders in the September 11, 2001, attack on our nation. We plan to dedicate this piece of public art on September 11, 2022.

Since 2014 the tiles have been displayed at Clarksville, TN Public Library. Soon the remembrance tiles will be on permanent display installed in a sculpture that to be created by local artist Jim Diehr.

A Community Art Project to Honor and Commemorate Those Who Serve

The Pillars of Hope Project began in 2012 and was part of the Serve to Remember Days of Service Initiative*.

What is the Pillars of Hope Project? The Pillars of Hope is a commemorative piece of public art created by the community. Its purpose is to honor and remember those who serve our country. The project began in 2012, a collaborative project of Volunteer Clarksville and Hands on Nashville, Arts for Hearts Clarksville, APSU Ceramics Department students under the supervision of Professor Ken Shipley, and with support from the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Clarksville Montgomery County Arts and Heritage Council. The Pillars of Hope memorial art project was meant to help people of all ages express their reactions to the September 11th tragedy. The project gives a voice to the future through art. Since 2012, more than 1200 tiles were painted by students, seniors and civic groups throughout the community.

*The 9/11 Serve to Remember Days of Service was first established to inspire the tradition of engaging in charitable service on 9/11 as an annual and forward looking tribute to the 9/11 victims, survivors and those who rose up in service in response to the attacks. Each year from September 1-11, 2011-2014, Rita Arancibia, founder of Volunteer Clarksville and Co-founder of Arts for Hearts Clarksville in partnership with Hands on Nashville coordinated 11 days of service throughout the community, helping local nonprofit organizations do what they do to help and support those in need. Volunteers dedicated their service hours to those who serve. It is a way to honor those special people who serve our country in war and in peace.

With help from Professor Ken Shipley, a chain link structure was built for the tiles. Every September since 2014 the memorial exhibit has been displayed at the Clarksville Public Library, 350 Pageant Lane.