Starburst Sculpture dedicated to Shousher family 

TOLEDO – The family and friends of the late Yehia Hussein “John” and Emney Shousher gathered on June 5 at a recently opened party patio on the Maumee to recognize the sculpture, “Starburst,” dedicated in their honor. Refreshments were served as the guests enjoyed conversation before the dedication ceremony began. The event was accompanied by warm notes of acoustic, traditional Lebanese music played by a trio, complete with an oud. 

The gathering was hosted at the “Starburst” sculpture location in International Cove, a piece of the Glass City Metroparks Riverwalk at The Docks. The Riverwalk project is celebrating its 50 percent goal marker as Watershed Week kicked off, running until the 14th. The June 5 dedication was the first private event to begin the celebration, which is fitting considering the legacy of the Shousher family. 

John Shousher “was a community leader in every sense of the word,” said Metroparks Toledo Director, Public Relations, Scott Carpenter. Shousher was a business man who helped to establish essential organizations like the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo, Toledo’s first Mosque and more. Regarded as a man with great wisdom and a servant’s heart, he acted as an ambassador to the Islamic community and a bridge across cultures, maintaining friendships with rabbis and mayors alike. His wife, Emney, always stood beside him with endless support and kindness. She worked to bring their dreams to life, striving to cultivate spaces where all could visit and feel welcomed. 

Many of their life’s themes are woven into “Starburst” and the area itself. Having worked to develop the river in volunteer board roles and business development efforts for over 40 years.

The sculpture, Riverwalk development, and dedication itself are the combined effort of Metroparks Toledo, The Arts Commission, and the Shousher family. The Arts Commission and Metroparks Toledo having established their relationship in previous projects intended to engage and serve areas of the city that have not received proper funding and attention, such as the East Side and the Vistula neighborhood. 

The sculpture is raised on platforms that allow visitors to walk under it, standing at the center of Riverwalk paths. Looking under the sculpture allows the viewer to better see the collage of words that were selected by the community. 

Toledo Design Collective started the event intending to collect neighborhood feedback on the construction of the park and artwork. They worked with MidStory, as well as a couple other partners in creating a space to gather words describing these immediate areas by the residents. They also conducted interviews with folks like the Shousher family. Blessing was involved in the process. 

Blessing, an artist known for standing community-based sculptures around the world, was selected as part of a previous application to another interactive sculpture project headed by The Arts Commission, “Field of Histories.” A few feet from “Starburst,” the exhibit consists of glass globes encased in chrome pedestals, containing pieces of Toledo history donated by residents. 

“We’ve really paid homage to ‘international,'” said Nathan Mattimoe, Director of Art in Public Places at The Arts Commission, who worked with these groups and sculpture artist Blessing Hancock to bring this project to life. “The original intention of international parks was to reflect on the many international connections Toledo has, including the many people who came from numerous countries to make up neighborhoods in our city.” The event produced many words that were narrowed down before being added, with the main qualifier being that the words must be translatable in all of the selected languages. 

“This [sculpture] is going to be a really important centerpiece of the park; it’s going to be important for the community, but it’s especially important to the folks that folks gathered here tonight, because this was done by the Shousher family in honor of John Shousher, who knew so many people and meant a lot to so many people,” Carpenter said.

The dedication event was a beautiful and wholistic celebration with folks from all backgrounds. It was truly a reflection of the dreams the Shousher family always pushed for.

“This is an example of John’s legacy and how his family continues to give back to the community,” added Carpenter. “I’m sure he would be proud.”