Black Lives Matter street mural (Salt Lake City)

Black Lives Matter street mural
Part of the mural in April 2021
Map
Artist
  • Pablo Abarca
  • Donovan Guerrero
  • Emma Lamae
  • Liz Lambson
  • Chris Ownes
  • Abigail Rodriguez
  • Chloe and Gretel Tam
  • Veronica Zak
Completion dateAugust 4, 2020 (2020-08-04)
LocationSalt Lake City, Utah, United States
Coordinates40°45′35″N 111°53′14″W / 40.7596°N 111.8872°W / 40.7596; -111.8872

In August 2020, eight artists painted a Black Lives Matter street mural in Salt Lake City's Washington Square Park, outside the Salt Lake City and County Building, in the U.S. state of Utah. The city had commissioned the painting with a contest "to support and memorialize the national movement to eliminate systemic racism".[1]

Description and history

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The mural was painted outside the Salt Lake City and County Building (pictured in April 2021).

In July 2020, the city announced a contest for local artists to participate. Mayor Erin Mendenhall said:

We want to make it clear that Salt Lake City believes Black Lives Matter and is committed to real change in our community. We're taking this symbolic step as a city to boldly acknowledge this movement and commit to our role in it. An important part of this for us is creating a space where artists and community members are able to come together to express their feelings on this movement.[2]

Design submissions were accepted during July 8–15.[2] On July 16, a committee selected and announced artists to fill in the outlined 16-letter phrase. Panelists included Mendenhall, Black Lives Matter Utah founder Lex Scott, council member Ana Valdemoros, and creative director Chris Owens.[3][4] The city intended the mural to be temporary but digitally preserved.[5]

The mural was painted by eight artists, sometimes credited as the Black Artists Collective or Utah Black Artists Collective,[6] on August 4. Each artist painted two letters of "Black Lives Matter" and received a $300 stipend for supplies.[7] According to KSTU's Elle Thomas, "each letter is unique. Some feature historical moments, others displaying current events and some promoting all-inclusivity amid diversity."[8] Owens painted Breonna Taylor within the "B".[8] Veronica Zak painted a "T".[9] Pablo Abarca, Donovan Guerrero, Emma Lamae, Liz Lambson,[5] Abigail Rodriguez, and Chloe and Gretel Tam were also selected.[10]

Reception

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Scott said, "This mural is a symbol of how this country is changing, and coming to understand the movement. We have been in these streets working towards justice and equality for 6 years. Now we get a visual representation of our work and goals to truly achieve justice in this country."[2]

In September 2020, a resident prepared to file a lawsuit against Mendenhall and the city for "not allowing other groups to have the same right to express opposing political points".[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Nelson, Paul (September 11, 2020). "Black Lives Matter mural in Salt Lake City may lead to a lawsuit". KSL. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Hendricks, Hailey (July 8, 2020). "Salt Lake City calls on artists to help create Black Lives Matter mural". KTVX. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  3. ^ Bennett, Lauren (July 8, 2020). "Salt Lake City asks local artists to create Black Lives Matter mural at city hall". KSL. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  4. ^ SCHWANITZ, CARY J. (July 8, 2020). "Designs Wanted For New BLM Mural At Salt Lake City Hall". KSL TV. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Utah artists finish Black Lives Matter mural outside City-County Building". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company (Deseret Management Corporation). August 5, 2020. ISSN 0745-4724. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  6. ^ "Utah artists paint Black Lives Matter mural in downtown Salt Lake City". KTVX. August 5, 2020. Archived from the original on March 14, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  7. ^ Roberts, Alyssa (August 4, 2020). "Local artists paint 'Black Lives Matter' mural outside Salt Lake City hall". KUTV. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Thomas, Elle (August 5, 2020). "Larger than life 'Black Lives Matter' mural completed in downtown SLC". KSTU. Archived from the original on December 26, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "Local artists create Black Lives Matter mural at Salt Lake City and County Building". The Salt Lake Tribune. August 4, 2020. ISSN 0746-3502. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  10. ^ @SLCgov (August 6, 2020). "Thank you to all the talented artists who made Salt Lake City's Black Lives Matter mural possible: Veronica Zak Chris Owens Liz Lambson Emma Lamae Chloe and Gretel Tam Abigail Rodriguez Donovan Guerrero Pablo Abarca #SLC #utpol @SLArtsCouncil @slcmayor" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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