Art & Society Fall 2015

This photo is just a section of a 20-30 foot mural across the street from my grandmothers apartment building.  When I first saw this painting I was in awe. In vibrant blues and purples are the faces of our african american brothers pleading for the freedom to have the ability to come home to their families every night. 
The caption reads "A contemporary blues piece. This mural echoes an original lyric calling for emancipation. The ballad stretches across the wall in a worried note.We yearn for a city free from intimidation and aggravated encounters with police. We stand against the displacement of low income families in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods. We cry out for the nearly 50,000 16-17 year olds arrested in New York and facing the possibility of prosecution as adults each year. This composition extends itself to anyone who has experienced loss or heart break, with compassion and respect for the sanctity of life." This mural is just the one act of many trying to speak out about police brutality towards African American people. This piece is used to create a place for human purpose, to record and commemorate, to construct meaningful images, give tangible form to feeling, and most importantly to refresh our vision and see the world in a new way. Art like this encourages us to try to get involved in the cause and try to make a difference in our communities.