From their earliest conception, the Jay Estate Gardens in Rye have been a place to host meaningful dialogues about American history and memory. A new outdoor wire sculpture exhibit created by acclaimed artist Kristine Mays expands upon that intentionality, celebrating and memorializing the spirts of enslaved people. Curated by the nonprofit Jay Heritage Center (JHC), “Rich Soil” is the first collection of fine art pieces to be installed in the historic landscape.

“I am breathing life into wire. With each work, I create a form that reveals the essence of a person and that speaks to humanity as a whole,” Mays said.