‘Journey of Hope’ now lighted
Journey of Hope is now lighted!
The 16-foot-tall aluminum sculpture depicts an African American woman looking up with yearning and determination contrasted against a golden sunburst that symbolizes the arrival of a new day where justice, equality and freedom prevail. Journey of Hope gives voice to the Dunbar community’s desire for an artwork that expressed the themes of hope, dreams and civil rights.
“Our goal for this very special project is to capture not only the brightness of hope and the power of dreams, but also the achievement of justice, equality and freedom pursued by extraordinary individuals like Veronica Shoemaker,” Lueza told the selection committee who chose her design from a field of 66 applicants 
and three finalists for the project, which was a collaboration by and between the City of Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency, Lee County Black History Society and Fort Myers Public Art Committee, with funding provided by the CRA.
According to Lueza, Veronica Shoemaker’s drive, determination and leadership provided the main inspiration for the gateway sculpture.
While the site for the Martin Luther King & Veronica S. Shoemaker Boulevard Gateway Artwork has no electrical service, Lueza installed a 200-watt self-sustained solar lighting system with LED fixtures to illuminate Journey of Hope after dark.
Since 2013, Lueza has completed more than 60 installations. In addition to commissions in Clearwater, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, 
Lakeland, Largo, Lauderhill, Ocala, Orlando, Pensacola, Pompano Beach, St. Augustine, St. Petersburg, Tamarac, Tampa, Tarpon Springs, West Palm Beach and Winter Garden, Cecilia’s work can be found in public art collections in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C. and the United Kingdom.
Argentine-American, Lueza studied visual arts at the University of La Plata in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
September 8, 2024.
About the Author
Tom Hall is both an amateur artist and aspiring novelist who writes art quest thrillers. He is in the final stages of completing his debut novel titled "Art Detective," a story that fictionalizes the discovery of the fabled billion-dollar Impressionist collection of Parisian art dealer Josse Bernheim-Jeune, thought by many to have perished during World War II when the collection's hiding place, Castle de Rastignac in southern France, was destroyed by the Wehrmacht in reprisal for attacks made by members of the Resistance operating in the area. A former tax attorney, Tom holds a bachelor's degree as well as both a juris doctorate and masters of laws in taxation from the University of Florida. Tom lives in Estero, Florida with his fiancee, Connie, and their four cats.