Shoes Installation

The owner of The Union, Ray Adamyk, began collecting used shoes from the community as a way to symbolize the deep connection between shoes and our individual journeys. He often referenced the saying, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger bringing good news” and explained how each pair of shoes tells a story—where someone has been, and where they are headed. As echoed in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, “My mama always said, you can tell a lot about a person by their shoes; where they’re going, where they’ve been.” Take a moment to reflect on those in our community—their paths, their struggles, and their victories.