George Floyd mural

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George Floyd mural
Portland Apple Store (50167661363).jpg
The mural on July 23, 2020
ArtistEmma Berger
Year2020 (2020)
LocationPortland, Oregon, United States
Coordinates45°31′04″N 122°40′39″W / 45.5179°N 122.6775°W / 45.5179; -122.6775Coordinates: 45°31′04″N 122°40′39″W / 45.5179°N 122.6775°W / 45.5179; -122.6775

A mural of George Floyd was painted by Emma Berger outside Portland, Oregon's Apple Pioneer Place, on June 1, 2020. She expanded the mural to show Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and phrases associated with the Black Lives Matter movement. The work was vandalized in August, and repaired by the artist. It was covered by Apple Inc. in December for preservation, then removed in January 2021 to be donated to Don't Shoot PDX.

Description and history[]

The mural in June 2020

Emma Berger painted a mural of George Floyd outside Apple Pioneer Place in downtown Portland, on June 1, 2020. She completed the mural, which depicted Floyd and the phrase "I can't breathe", in approximately two hours and without seeking permission.[1][2] Berger later added the faces of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor,[3][4] as well as the phrases "black lives matter" and "say their names". The image of Floyd is 8-foot (2.4 m) tall. Berger invited other artists to contribute to the mural; more faces, names, and background imagery were added on June 4. More artworks were added to the surrounding area.[5]

The mural was vandalized in August 2020; the text "It's okay to be white" was written in spray-paint. Berger returned to repair the artwork.[6]

In December 2020, Apple covered the mural for preservation.[7][8] The work was removed in January 2021,[9] and donated to Don't Shoot PDX.[10][11]

Reception[]

The memorial was expanded by community members, who wrote poems using chalk and added candles.[1] People also left flowers, pictures, and signs.[5][12] According to KOIN's Ken Boddie, the work "became a national symbol".[10]

Apple described the mural as "a monumental art piece honoring the ongoing fight for justice" and said in a statement, "Apple stands in support of the artists and all who are fighting for social and racial justice. We are honored to have hosted the murals and are very happy to entrust the artwork to Don't Shoot Portland in support of their advocacy for social change."[13] Don't Shoot PDX said the paintings "reflect the responses of so many that were witnesses to last summer's uprisings, answering the joint call to action against institutionalized violence and white nationalism".[13]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Emma Berger's Mural of George Floyd Sparked a Massive Community Art Project Downtown". Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  2. ^ "Mural honors George Floyd in downtown Portland". KATU. 2020-06-03. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  3. ^ "Artist paints George Floyd mural on boarded up windows of Apple Store". KGW. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  4. ^ "Portland artist memorializes Breonna Taylor with mural". WDRB. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  5. ^ a b "George Floyd mural at Portland Apple Store goes viral". Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  6. ^ "George Floyd mural repaired after vandalism". KOIN. 2020-08-11. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  7. ^ "Apple will donate George Floyd mural from Portland store". AP NEWS. 2020-12-24. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  8. ^ Rogoway, Mike (2021-01-22). "Apple donates George Floyd mural from downtown Portland store to Don't Shoot PDX". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  9. ^ "Downtown Portland George Floyd mural removed for donation". KTVL. 2021-01-27. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  10. ^ a b "Where We Live: Downtown Portland's George Floyd mural". KOIN. 2021-03-08. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  11. ^ "Downtown Portland George Floyd mural removed for donation". KATU. 2021-01-27. Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  12. ^ "Artist creates mural honoring George Floyd in downtown Portland". Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  13. ^ a b "Apple Has Donated the Black Lives Matter Mural Painted Outside Its Downtown Store to Don't Shoot PDX". Archived from the original on 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-07-30.

External links[]

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