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 The words LIVES STOLEN – STOLEN LIVES best describe the memorial mural’s content.  For months now I have wanted to tie the theme of wrongful convictions into the mural. A huge number of innocent people are sitting in prison in America, a high percentage of them African American. Year after year, in every state, many lawyers are working to free them, trying to win exonerations for them, sometimes succeeding to get compensations for the freed innocent persons. Last fall a flurry of those cases happened to be in the news again, and I started to research, getting drawn into those excruciating stories of injustice, blatant racism, and presumption of guilt. I have been feeling this is part of what the mural is addressing and questioning. But how to make the visual connection on the garage doors, and find the right balance? It took me a long time. 

Draft on paper for the middle part of panel 

 

I immersed myself in stories 

from the Innocence Project https://innocenceproject.org/ 

and Bryan Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative https://eji.org/issues/wrongful-convictions/ 

and the exoneration organization Centurion https://centurion.org/  

all seeking freedom for the innocent in prison, vindicating the wrongfully convicted. 


I believe finally I am emerging with the essence of what needs to be made visible. For me this comes in the form of the words STOLEN LIVES – LIVES STOLEN. The other day I washed the three panels I have designated for the mural addition. Now I just have to find the time to draw new lines, sketch the words in pencil. And then paint with the brush which will be the final reward. A freshly matched quart of turquoise is waiting. I will keep you posted on my progress. Or perhaps you will see it driving, biking, walking by… come and say hello...

Comments

nicole gervacio said…
I appreciate the slow, shifting & intentional process of this mural, holding & integrating important layers and acknowledging, remembering, honoring, memorializing...there are so many regular passerbys and walkers, curious if they have been aware and paying attention to the shift.
August 1, 2022 at 11:33 AM
Fern said…
Choosing the turquoise color for the powerful words makes for a perfect visual connection. Can't wait to see it finished!
August 4, 2022 at 12:34 PM
Alex K said…
Albert Woodfox died the other day. I read his autobiography SOLITARY, not that long ago. He was a great man who suffered the injustice of our society towards Black people with enormous dignity and great spiritual depth. I believe he would have been greatly moved and appreciative of your memorial mural.
August 6, 2022 at 2:31 PM
Karina said…
Albert Woodfox was a member of the Black Panthers, one of the Angola 3. For 44 years he was in solitary confinement, which amounts to severe torture. Several people in my circles fought for his release for decades, he finally was freed in 2016. The other day i spoke to young people of my 4 year volunteer work (1992-96) in a federal woman's prison and the film, and how not much has changed. Voices from Inside was the first film on women prisoners and their children. 30 years ago the media did not touch this theme. My research back then was extensive for three years. These days at least we can read and hear about America's horrendous prison system. And several wonderful podcasts by prisoners are available. Back then in my film i narrated: "In 25 years, will our children ask us: what did you do to change this?" Those 25 years have passed....
Here is Albert Woodfox's Obituary by Democracy Now from August 5, 2022: https://www.democracynow.org/2022/8/5/albert_woodfox_black_panthers_angola_three
August 6, 2022 at 3:28 PM
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