The sculpture, a four foot tall hand forming the American Sign Language sign for “I love you,” is made of a series of hand shapes that were created by students working with Doster to trace their hands on steel sheets that were then cut and patched together to create the sculptural shape.

The sculpture was made possible by a grant from the South Carolina Arts in the Basic Curriculum Program and the SC School for the Deaf and Blind Foundation. A sister sculpture was installed in downtown Spartanburg, SC where the School for the Deaf and Blind is located.

In 2017, students began creating two sculptures – one for Columbia and one for Spartanburg. SCSDB Fine Arts Director Josh Padgett came up with the idea for the sculptures and obtained funding for the $10,000 project through the South Carolina Arts in the Basic Curriculum Project and the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind Foundation. He then selected Bob Doster to serve as lead artist for the project. Doster is best known in South Carolina for his stainless steel palmetto sculptures. His sculptures adorn businesses, corporate headquarters, cities, and private homes all over the country.

The school’s foundation helped choose downtown Columbia as the long-term location for the sculpture.

Cathi Holst, an SCSDB graduate and an ASL teacher at the school, said the sculpture sends a universal message. “Even hearing people use this sign to tell their family members they love them – whether they know sign language or not,” she said.

“We are all incredibly proud of the work being done at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind,” said City of Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin. “This beautiful new sculpture in the heart of our city will serve as a beacon of inclusiveness and hope for all of our citizens. Thank you to Mr. Doster for creating the sculpture as well as all those who helped turn this dream into a reality.”

“We are very proud to have the sculpture placed in downtown Columbia, a city that is home to our Statewide Division of Outreach Services,” said Dr. Page McCraw, president of the SC School for the Deaf and the Blind. “It is an honor to have the sculpture placed in the state’s capital city and center of government, education, and culture.”

“We are excited about having this sculpture in the capital of the state and hope that many who call South Carolina home and those visitors from outside of South Carolina will see the sculpture and be reminded of the importance of including all citizens in this community.” states Mr. Tom Farthing, Chairman of the SCSDB Foundation Board of Trustees.

The dedication event, held on October 23, 2019, included remarks by Mayor Benjamin and Dr. Page McCraw, the President of the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, and a special performance by the SCSDB Chorus directed by Mr. Josh Padgett, the school’s Fine Arts Coordinator.