Black Lives Matter murals have been popping up across the country since the killing of George Floyd by police. In Hartford, a mural is tucked away in the city鈥檚 North End, with another in the works downtown. And in Stamford, the affirmation Black Lives Matter has been painted on a main street.
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Artists from Hartford and members of the community gathered outside the Swift Factory last week to work on portraits of Black civil rights leaders, entertainers, and Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old woman killed by police in March.
Hartford artist and resident John Massey changed his mural plans to incorporate congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, who died July 17.
鈥淭o me, he was like baby Martin,鈥� Massey said. 鈥淗e was a teenager when Martin was already on the front lines sacrificing, and he learned that getting in good trouble from him. It鈥檚 only right.鈥�
Massey also worked on adding finishing touches to a portion of the mural that declares Black is Beautiful and Black is Freedom, painted by Hartford artist Lindaluz Carrillo.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the message, it鈥檚 an everyday reminder,鈥� Massey said. 鈥淚f you live in this area and you Black, you鈥檙e gonna remember Black is freedom, Black is beautiful, Black lives matter. It鈥檚 a free therapy session for somebody who walks by here every time.鈥�
Charish Shepherd worked on painting portraits of the late rappers Biggie Smalls and Nipsey Hussle.
鈥淎rt to me is a great way to relieve stress,鈥� Shepherd said. 鈥淚f you're having a bad day or something, my way is to listen to music that inspires me to keep going with life and art because art is the language that nobody can really describe.鈥�
The mural is backed by the 黑料吃瓜网 Murals Project, which brings together artists and community members for public art and commercial murals. Gerina Fullwood wanted to make a statement within the community.
鈥淚 wanted people to look at it and say, 鈥榳ow,鈥� and say, 鈥榯his is a message that鈥檚 uplifting,鈥欌�� Fullwood said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to prosper, we鈥檙e going to overcome situations or circumstances that act as barriers 鈥� especially as Black people.鈥�
Nearly 80 miles south in Stamford, 14 professional artists spent a whole day painting 鈥淏lack Lives Matter鈥� outside the Ferguson Library on Broad Street.
鈥淭he 鈥楥鈥� Is actually a woman with a big afro going around it. It鈥檚 awesome,鈥� said Guy Fortt, the city鈥檚 NAACP president. 鈥淭hat is my favorite.鈥�
Fortt was one of around 1,000 people who helped out the professional artists fill in the letters of Black Lives Matter with names like Eric Garner, people like Tupac and significant colors like the black, red and green of the Pan-African flag.
Art curator and Stamford resident Valerie Cooper was inspired by the artistic support for the Black Lives Matter movement she had seen pop up all over the country.
鈥淲hen I saw LA on the map, Charlotte, D.C., Brooklyn -- Stamford had to be next,鈥� said Cooper.
Cooper partnered with the NAACP and Ferguson Library to make it happen last weekend. The mural is right in front of the library doorstep for a specific reason.
鈥淚t sort of leads you to the place to learn more, to have to eliminate systematic racism and advocate for more social justice,鈥� said Cooper.
Cooper says the Ferguson Library has committed to hosting events to talk about social injustice and racism in the community.
So far $10,000 has been raised on GoFundMe to cover the mural鈥檚 $20,000 cost.
A large-scale street mural similar to the Stamford mural with the phrase 鈥淏lack Lives Matter鈥� is also in the works on Trinity Street in downtown Hartford, organized by Black Lives Matter 860 and Hartford resident Levey Kardulis, with support from the city of Hartford.
That mural was to be revealed on Sunday, July 26, in the afternoon.
