State Street Murals

State Street Murals - Madison, WI
With teens from Edgewood High (& friends)

Spray & Wall Paint
Location: See 437 State Street, Madison, WI 53703

This was painted after the protests.

Together we transformed sheets of plywood into a message.

The only way to truly grasp what I feel about painting this past weekend, is to go down to State Street and absorb and listen to each piece with your own eyes and hearts. My words are unable to explain the depth and sincerity expressed. I contributed the one way I felt I could in this moment, working through an image to help bring attention to the voice of the black community and the youth I collaborated with. Together we transformed sheets of plywood into a message, their message. That day, I was planning to paint the picture of the strong woman in an alley doing street art the way I normally do, just for me, doing what I love even if no one sees it. With the printed paper already in my hands, she was meant to stand for something more. They had creative freedom, and all were eager to paint, but before picking up a brush I asked them to look at the other art in order to grasp the power of these images. They wanted to add a list of bills that everyone could vote on, to give people an idea of how they can make a difference, but as work progressed the creation became more focused on representing growth, a hand with seeds and the direct message “BLM.” People stopped to say “thank you” and oftentimes I found myself saying it back, “thank YOU.” Being a part of this moment feels sacred; if you take a walk down this street, you’ll understand why.

*The project was part of a collaboration between the Central BID and the City of Madison Arts Program.