Driving into Hawley from the east on Route 6, March 2, these bright colors in the afternoon sun caught the writer’s eye. Standing on a ladder was the creator of this collaborative effort of sculpture: Christopher Hughes, who was putting on the finishing touches of paint in support of Ukraine.

The sculpture was completed in 2017 and was created by Hughes with the help of Sheelah Kaye-Stepkin, and was originally housed inside the Hawley Silk Mill. It was later moved to its present position near the entrance to the mill on Route 6, east of Hawley, and was painted red and blue. An addition to the sculpture—the likeness of a U.S. Forever postage stamp—was added when voting by mail became an issue during 2020 and has since been removed.

Hughes said he got his inspiration for this sculpture from the famous LOVE sculpture work created by Robert Indiana. Hughes elaborated that his sculpture is not meant to be taken politically, but viewed as an inspiration for everyone to go to the polls in support of democracy.

In light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Hughes was moved to repaint the sculpture in Ukraine colors: blue, representing the sky, and yellow, representing wheat.

The sculpture is 11 feet high by seven feet and six inches wide.