Check out the Black Lives Matter street mural in uptown Charlotte
After 11 nights of protests in Charlotte over the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and others who died at the hands of police officers, 17 of Charlotte’s artists have come together to create a Black Lives Matter mural on South Tryon Street.
In bright, multicolored letters between Third and Fourth streets, Black Lives Matter is spelled out. Each letter is being painted by a different artist. Other cities have created similar messages, inspired by a mural painted in Washington D.C. with Black Lives Matter painted up 16th Street NW leading to the White House.
Charlotte’s artists are collaborating with the City of Charlotte, Charlotte Is Creative, Brand the Moth and BLKMRKTCLT.
These artists include:
- Dammit Wesley
- Dakotah Aiyanna
- Matthew Clayburn
- Abel Jackson
- Garrison Gist
- Owl & Arko
- Kyle Mosher
- Franklin Kernes
- Kiana Mui
- Marcus Kiser
- Georgie Nakima
- Zach McLean
- Frankie Zombie
- CHD:WCK!
- John Hairston
- Dari Calamari
“Shoutout to Charlotte for being progressive enough to let something like this happen,” Dammit Wesley told CharlotteFive as he painted the letter B. “Thank you for watching. Thank you, police officers, for not gassing me in the middle of the street. Not saying that you won’t, but — we’ll see tomorrow night. Love you guys, peace.”
Several artists involved with the project said it speaks to their experience of being Black — an experience that is not always welcomed by those who consume art.
Wesley is part-owner of BLKMRKTCLT. “I am the project. Being a Black man, being a Black artist, being very vocal about race and the experiences of people of color, specifically dark brown people, I was already doing this work to begin with,” he said.
“I have been approached and I have approached certain businesses and companies about doing mural and exterior and interior artwork for them and everybody seems interested in having a Black guy create for them — until the Black guy does something that is reminiscent of him being Black.”
Wesley recalled one potential client who told him that he could not do business with him because he did not want to take a political stance.
“It was not only hurtful, it was eye-opening because racism is so innate and ingrained into the American consciousness. Just the idea of you being Black and existing is a political statement that will offend people. For a project like this, me being able to exist and be loud and proud about it, is way more revolutionary than what I would consider, but this is a very bold statement on the behalf of us as artists, but also the city to let it happen.”
Black Lives Matter: More than words spoken during a protest
Artist Dakotah Aiyanna said that “Black Lives Matter” needs to be more than just words spoken during a protest, so that’s why the artists were painting it on the street. “Hopefully this can bring together the community in a very positive light, like all the protests have been doing.”
Marcus Kiser, a native Charlottean and contributing artist, said he connected with the project as an activist who uses art as means to communicate.
“All of my work as an artist and a designer revolves around social justice and community issues, particularly in Black communities. I’m a social justice creative. Whatever the need is to make this world a better place, I do that through art.”
Kiser said he hopes this mural will be an opportunity for people to educate themselves on social injustice and for people of color to express themselves freely.
“I want people to understand the history of injustices in this country and the reason that people speak out, the reason that people protest. I want equitable opportunities for people of color. I don’t want us to have to live in fear about anything. I want us to be able to be who we are as people.”
Support from the City of Charlotte and the community alike
Hannah Fairweather, an organizer of the mural and director of curation for Brand the Moth, spoke on the response from the community surrounding the project.
“I think that there is a palpable energy around it [the mural]. Everyone is just excited to see it, excited to be a part of it. The fact that it is bright and colorful and everyone clearly has a different style and voice behind it. It’s fun to walk down the street and see what people are working on now,” Fairweather said.
Fairweather hopes that the piece will create the opportunity for similar pieces in the future.
“What’s been great is seeing the city rally behind it. I hope that that will allow for more projects like this. There are some projects that are already happening. I hope that murals become a way that people can express themselves and use that as a platform to continue the conversation.”
A message for Charlotte’s youth
Dena Paulding, district executive director of the McCrorey Family YMCA, said the mural appeals to creative learners.
“It speaks to a large number of people. When you have a different medium, you have a chance to reach out to those who are artistically inclined, those who see their message through color, who understand history through creativity,” Paulding said.
From the mural, Paulding hopes to see a lasting effect on youth within the community.
“I hope that having a message like this will last in the minds of our youth to get out and take actions, to help make policy changes that will help with our equality and equity of life and having artwork speaks a language that a lot of corporate [entities] do not. It is a free expression and it helps keep people in mind of their experiences.”
This story was originally published June 9, 2020 at 11:18 AM.
