Cadex Herrera, Greta McLain, Niko Alexander, Pablo Hernandez, Xena Goldman, Maria Javier, Rachel Breen, Anjel Carpenter

Minneapolis, 2020

Murals have made statements throughout history. The paintings on the walls of caves seem to have been the first efforts to memorialize events and values of the community. Murals help tell the story of the times in which they are created. I’m sharing a mural here painted within a similar purpose. As many of you may know, this is the mural at 38^th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis. It is painted on the side of the Cup Foods Store with the permission of the owner. He is the person who called the police about George Floyd that day this May.

The work on this mural began three days after George Floyd was murdered. The artists told CNN that it all came together very quickly with organizing Instagram posts of “Who’s ready? Let’s go!”  Artists gathered at this spot. They hadn’t painted together before. They passionately joined forces to design and paint the broad strokes and careful details of this work. Their cooperation is layered here in paint and image.

This group of artists, diverse and dedicated, wanted to give their city a place to process this unbearable event of loss, rage, and despair. They painted George Floyd surrounded by their values of justice and hope with uplifting tints and shades of blue, orange, purple and yellow. They surrounded him with a flower, with people in name and in silhouette raising their arms in solidarity. They said his name loudly in block letters of respect and honor and in the heart of this work, in a black and white center, they painted the blatant core of systemic racism, police brutality and their devastating result. The words “I Can Breathe Now” were added after a community survey done by Anjel Carpenter. These words of healing and progress are another truth painted here.

This mural became part of the community’s memorial art installation. It became a place where shame could be put down and determination could be taken up. It became a thin place where God’s grace and love were deeply felt and known as near in a beautiful collection of notes and flowers and tears. This mural anchors both spoken emotions and promises and those for which there just aren’t words.

On the wall of a grocery store in a neighborhood in mourning in 2020, a group of young artists experienced Pentecost when bidden or not bidden the spirit came again and filled their brushes with wind and fire. Thank you, God, for the work of artists. We pray to glimpse the world they see. We pray to continue the struggle toward that world and to not forget how far we still must go. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. Amen.

In hope and faith,

Sandy Prouty