Rep. Carl Gilliard Announces Partnership with SCAD SERVE Design for Good to Develop Original 33 Plus One Monument at the Georgia State Capitol

ATLANTA - State Representative Carl Gilliard (D-Savannah) is partnering with the Savannah College of Art and Design's (SCAD) SCAD SERVE Design for Good initiative to develop a permanent memorial honoring the legacy of the Original 33 Plus One at the Georgia State Capitol. Through this collaboration, Rep. Gilliard will work with students from SCAD's top-ranked programs in sculpture, painting, writing and photography to conceptualize and design a monument that commemorates the Original 33 Plus One with dignity, permanence and reverence.

"I am honored to see the vision behind House Bill 303 - which passed unanimously during the 2025 legislative session - come to life as we begin work on a permanent memorial to the Original 33 Plus One," said Rep. Gilliard. "This monument will stand as a testament to their courage and sacrifice, and I am grateful to partner with SCAD SERVE and commend the SCAD professors and students who have conducted extensive research and contributed thoughtful design work to help shape this memorial. Passing HB 303 was only the first step - this memorial will help ensure future generations understand the profound impact these trailblazers had on our state and our democracy."

At the center of the proposed memorial stands a sculptural installation of a bronze ladder-back chair historically authentic to the Reconstruction era, grounding the monument in the material culture of the time. The bronze chair will be surrounded by 34 cascading glass quill sculptures symbolizing the signing of legislation and participation in democratic governance and honor the civic power these men fought to exercise. Together, these components form a unified design intended to acknowledge the role and contributions of the Original 33 Plus One within Georgia's civic history.

SCAD SERVE is the university's community-impact initiative, engaging SCAD students, alumni, faculty and staff to support needs across the pillars of food, shelter, clothing, environment, safety and education. Through SCAD SERVE, the university partners with nonprofits, civic leaders and community organizations to deliver solutions that uplift communities in the university's hometown communities of Savannah and Atlanta.

Design for Good is an initiative within SCAD SERVE engaging SCAD students in multidisciplinary, 10-week studio courses in which they collaborate with mission-based organizations facing real-world challenges. Guided by SCAD faculty, students apply their training in related disciplines to produce solutions.

The proposed monument will be presented to the Capitol Arts Standards Commission, after which it may be considered for dedication on the Georgia State Capitol Grounds following the 2026 legislative session.

*Editor's note: Rep. Gilliard provides photos from the final presentation event which are included below.

Representative Carl Gilliard represents the citizens of District 162, which includes a portion of Chatham County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and currently serves as Secretary of the Creative Arts & Entertainment. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development, Insurance, Natural Resources & Environment, Reapportionment and Redistricting and Transportation committees.

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