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
The Salt Lake City and County Building, usually called the "City-County Building", is the seat of government for Salt Lake City, Utah. The historic landmark formerly housed offices for Salt Lake County government as well, hence the name.
History ...
, 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".
Description and history
In July 2020, the city announced a contest for local artists to participate. Mayor
Erin Mendenhall
Erin Mendenhall (born June 8, 1980) is an American politician who has been serving as the mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah since 2020. Upon taking office as Salt Lake City’s 36th mayor, Mendenhall became the city’s third and youngest woman in th ...
said:
Design submissions were accepted during July 8–15.
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.
The city intended the mural to be temporary but digitally preserved.
The mural was painted by eight artists, sometimes credited as the Black Artists Collective or Utah Black Artists Collective, on August 4. Each artist painted two letters of "Black Lives Matter" and received a $300 stipend for supplies.
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."
Owens painted
Breonna Taylor within the "B".
[ Veronica Zak painted a "T". Pablo Abarca, Donovan Guerrero, Emma Lamae, Liz Lambson,][ Abigail Rodriguez, and Chloe and Gretel Tam were also selected.]
Reception
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."[
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".][
]
See also
* 2020 in art
The year 2020 in art involved various significant events.
Events
* January 20 - Vincent van Gogh's '' Self-Portrait as a Sick Person'' (August 1889) from the collection of the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo is verified b ...
References
External links
Black Lives Matter Mural, August 2020, Salt Lake City
at Emma Lamae's official website
* (July 9, 2020), KUTV
* (August 6, 2020), KUTV
* (August 13, 2020), Salt Lake City Television
{{Public art in Salt Lake City
2020 establishments in Utah
2020 paintings
Black Lives Matter art
Black people in art
Public art in Utah
Murals in Utah