A powerful new sculpture capturing the heroism and spirit of emancipation has taken stage at the “Tides of Freedom: Legacies of Resistance from the U. S. Virgin Islands to the United States of America” art exhibition, which opened Friday evening at the historic Fort Frederik Museum on St. Croix.
Among the array of multidisciplinary works reflecting on emancipation, self-governance, and self-determination, artist Edney L. Freeman’s piece, “Buddhoe Freedom Rider,” stood out—not only for its craftsmanship but for the charged story it tells.
The sculpture, created over an intense 40-day period, depicts the legendary General Buddhoe (Moses Gottlieb) atop a rearing horse, holding high the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s a dramatic reimagining of a figure often cast as a rebel, when in truth, Buddhoe sought peace amid a storm of resistance in 1848.
“I wanted to capture that moment of defiant joy,” Freeman shared during the opening. “A man proclaiming ‘Freedom!’ to his people — no saddle, just a blanket, leather reins, and the courage of conviction.”
Freeman, a respected Virgin Islander and seasoned sculptor whose works have appeared in China, New York, and most recently St. Thomas’ Yacht Haven Grande, constructed the sculpture from oil clay over an armature. Every detail, from the reins to the facial expressions and the precise packaging for shipment, was handled with Freeman’s characteristic care. “Even the way you package your art says something about how you value your work,” he reflected.
Monica Marin, territorial curator of the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums, lauded Freeman’s contribution as a centerpiece of the exhibition. “Lucien [Downes] made a masterpiece for this show, and so did Edney [Freeman]. We have among us masters,” she told attendees, highlighting not just Freeman but other celebrated local artists like El’Roy Simmonds.
Tides of Freedom, presented by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ Division of Libraries, Archives & Museums, opened with a slate of cultural performances and speeches connecting the past to the present. Historian George Tyson offered reflections on Buddhoe’s vital role at Estate La Grange, while attorney and constitutional delegate Devin Carrington drew parallels between the emancipation uprising and today’s constitutional movement in the Virgin Islands.
The exhibit itself honors both the July 3, 1848, emancipation in St. Croix, Danish West Indies (now U.S. Virgin Islands) and Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) in Texas, examining their shared legacies of resistance and cultural survival. It also highlights how Virgin Islanders have navigated migration, civil rights movements, and the long road toward self-governance. “These migrating histories include both forced migrations via the Transatlantic slave trade and voluntary movement in pursuit of a better life, as many Virgin Islanders who migrated to major cities on the mainland had a profound impact on shaping Black liberatory thinking and civil rights in the USA,” noted Marin. “This exhibition seeks to bridge geographical and historical divides, highlighting how freedom movements and African people and their descendants are deeply interconnected, rooted in liberatory practice, cultural memory, and resilience,” she added.
Jozette Walker, assistant commissioner and co-coordinator, noted the exhibition’s deeper relevance. “This isn’t just about history — it’s about how we claim our future. Freedom, culture, and sustainability go hand in hand.”
As visitors lingered into the evening, Freeman’s Buddhoe Freedom Rider drew a steady crowd, with many pausing to read the proclamation held high in the sculpture’s raised arm. It was a scene of quiet reverence mixed with reflection on the resilience and spirit of those who came before.
Other artists featured in this year’s Tides of Freedom: Ralph Motta, Waldermar Brodhurst, Chalana Brown, David Berg, Victoria Rivera, Joia Woods, Elwin Joseph, John Jones, Mark “Feijao” Milligan II, Regina Keels, Adrian Edwards, Jaliyah Gunnell, Peter Bailey, Janet C. Rutnik, Lori Lee & Edgar Endres, Afreekan Southwell, and Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism’s (CHANT’s) woodworkers: Laverne Richardson, Kua, Judith Rhymer, Bruce Cole, Linda Lacy Bernice Knight, Esther Joseph, Fabiola Poleon, and Terry Daley-Stanley.
The Tides of Freedom exhibition, also known as the 2025 Emancipation Exhibit, runs through October at the Fort Frederik Museum in Frederiksted, St. Croix. Admission is $10.
St. Croix Source
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