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	== External links ==		== External links ==
	~~{{Portal\|Visual arts}}~~
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{{Short description|Mural in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.}}
{{Infobox artwork
| title = Black Lives Matter street mural
| italic title = no
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| image = Black Lives Matter street mural (Indianapolis).jpg
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| caption = Street-level view of the mural on August 8, 2020
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| year =  {{start date|2020}}
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| city = [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], U.S.
| coordinates = {{Location|39.7768|-86.1688|display=inline,title}}
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The '''Black Lives Matter street mural''' '''in Indianapolis''' is a large, colorful mural reading "#BLACKLIVESMATTER", with a [[raised fist]], that 18 artists painted across a downtown roadway in August 2020, as part of the [[George Floyd protests]]. The mural is located on [[Indiana Avenue]], the historic hub of the city's Black culture, on the same corner as the [[Madam Walker Legacy Center|Madam C. J. Walker Building]].

18 individual local African American artists created the artwork, each artist responsible for one of the images in the message, and organized activists working with local Black Lives Matter groups. In contrast to several of the other [[List of Black Lives Matter street murals|Black Lives Matter street murals]] created around the same time, Indianapolis's is not painted in yellow road markings, but instead consists of many different contributions from artists painting in their own distinct style, which comes together as a single artwork.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-08-06|title=Local artists join together for 'Black Lives Matter' mural|url=https://indianapolisrecorder.com/362c7d08-d7ef-11ea-9edf-fb1eaa4c3076/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Indianapolis Recorder|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129171955/https://indianapolisrecorder.com/362c7d08-d7ef-11ea-9edf-fb1eaa4c3076/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Design ==
Indiana Ave is a diagonal street, and the mural is oriented so that it reads left-to-right in the northwest direction. The mural is composed of 18 distinct pieces by different artists in their own style, but that all coalesce in a single work with common thematic elements, such as contrasting colors and geometric shapes.<ref name=":0" /> Beyond the Black Lives Matter mural, each of the artists work in different media or subject matter, and many of them do not specialize in [[street art]] at all.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Grossman|first=Dan|title='Eighteen: Black Lives Matter' at the Indianapolis Art Center|url=https://nuvo.newsnirvana.com/arts/visual/eighteen-black-lives-matter-at-the-indianapolis-art-center/article_e9aad45e-2283-11eb-8b68-7f0e5a6e01ca.html|access-date=2021-06-18|website=NUVO|language=en|archive-date=2020-12-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202003006/https://nuvo.newsnirvana.com/arts/visual/eighteen-black-lives-matter-at-the-indianapolis-art-center/article_e9aad45e-2283-11eb-8b68-7f0e5a6e01ca.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Artists sketched their work on the pavement using chalk and tape before applying paint, using both rollers and brushes.

The mural was created with contributions from 18 artists:
* '''#''': [[Jarrod Dortch]]
* '''B''': [[Nathaniel Rhodes]]
* '''L''': [[Rebecca Robinson (artist)|Rebecca Robinson]] (PSNOB)
* '''A''': [[Amiah Mims]]
* '''C''': [[Billy Hoodoo]]
* '''K''': [[Kevin West (artist)|Kevin Wes]]
* '''L''': [[John G. Moore]]
* '''I''': [[Gary Gee]]
* '''V''': [[Deonna Craig]]
* '''E''': [[Rae Parker]]
* '''S''': [[Ess Mckee|Ess McKee]]
* '''M''': [[Wavy Blayne]]
* '''A''': [[Harriet Watson]]
* '''T''': [[Shane Young (artist)|Shane Young]] (FITZ)
* '''T''': [[Israel Solomon]]
* '''E''': [[Shamira Wilson]]
* '''R''': [[Ashley Nora]]
* '''[''Fist'']''': [[Kenneth Hordge]] (Fingercreations)
[[File:Nathaniel Rhodes (The Children's Museum of Indianapolis) - sitting.jpg|thumb|Nathaniel Rhodes ("B" artist) displays art during a 2021 [[Black History Month]] public program at [[The Children's Museum of Indianapolis]].]]Several of the pieces contain words and political messages, such as Kevin Wes' "K", which includes the name Michael Taylor, a Black teenager killed by Indianapolis police in 1987, who was also the artist's cousin. John G. Moore's "L" depicts the word "VOTE" written vertically, next to an image of a ballot and [[ballot box]]. Gary Gee's "I" contains an image of Taylor, whose death the artist stated was one of his earliest memories of police violence.<ref name=":1" /> Others were more abstract, focusing either on explicit symbols or using shape and color. Kenneth Hordge's raised fist is a scene of African symbolism, with a [[lion]] and [[acacia]] tree silhouetted in front of a setting sun, beneath the fist's fingers in [[Pan-African colours|Pan-African colors]]. Harriet Watson's "A", with drops of blood, is inspired by [[Faith Ringgold]]'s ''[[The American People Series 18: The Flag is Bleeding|The Flag is Bleeding]]''.<ref name=":0" />

== History ==

=== Indiana Ave ===
The downtown Indiana Ave. location selected for the street mural is symbolic of both Indianapolis's Black history and its legacy of [[White supremacy]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-02|title=Indiana Avenue Becomes Black Lives Matter Mural|url=https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/news-and-opinion/indiana-avenue-becomes-black-lives-matter-mural|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Indianapolis Monthly|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224080126/https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/news-and-opinion/indiana-avenue-becomes-black-lives-matter-mural|url-status=live}}</ref> The street, which runs in a northwest diagonal outward from the city center, began to be populated by Blacks as early as the 1860s. by the early 20th century, it was the clear center of Black culture in the city, with Black-owned business and Black churches dotting the area. Then, beginning in the 1950s, the city of Indianapolis undertook a campaign of uprooting Indiana Ave's Black populace in a forced redevelopment plan that Wildstyle Paschall of ''[[New America (organization)|New America]]'' describes as "ethnic cleansing". Utilizing legal tactics, such as declaring areas blighted and invoking [[eminent domain]], Indianapolis's White leadership took over and demolished swaths of the area in order to make way for the construction of the [[Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis]] campus, an [[Indiana University Health]] medical campus, the downtown section of [[Interstate 65 in Indiana|Interstate 65]], and increased parking. This history made the mural's placement a reference to the city's history of racial injustice.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Ethnic Cleansing of Black Indianapolis|url=http://newamerica.org/indianapolis/blog/indiana-avenue-ethnic-cleansing-black-indianapolis/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=New America|language=en|archive-date=2021-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224200347/https://www.newamerica.org/indianapolis/blog/indiana-avenue-ethnic-cleansing-black-indianapolis/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Fernando|first=Christine|title='This is reclaiming the block': 'Black Lives Matter' mural painted on Indiana Avenue|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2020/08/01/indianapolis-black-lives-matter-mural-painted-indiana-avenue/5562886002/|access-date=2021-06-18|website=The Indianapolis Star|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224234531/https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2020/08/01/indianapolis-black-lives-matter-mural-painted-indiana-avenue/5562886002/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Israel Solomon (The Children's Museum of Indianapolis).jpg|thumb|Israel Solomon (second "T" artist) displays art during a 2021 [[Black History Month]] public program at [[The Children's Museum of Indianapolis]].]]

=== Creation ===
[[File:Deonna Craig (The Children's Museum of Indianapolis) - standing.jpg|thumb|Deonna Craig ("V" artist) displays art during a 2021 [[Black History Month]] public program at [[The Children's Museum of Indianapolis]].]]
On June 5, 2020, during the [[George Floyd protests]], the city of Washington, D.C. painted the words "[[Black Lives Matter]]" near the [[White House]], and, subsequently, similar messages were painted on streets in many cities, by activists or local governments. Around this time, [[Indy10]], the local Black Lives Matter organizing group in Indianapolis, began planning for the possibility of a street mural in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-18|title='Black Lives Matter' mural coming to Indiana Avenue|url=https://www.wrtv.com/news/america-in-crisis/black-lives-matter-mural-coming-to-indiana-avenue|access-date=2021-02-21|website=WRTV|language=en|archive-date=2020-12-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221145410/https://www.wrtv.com/news/america-in-crisis/black-lives-matter-mural-coming-to-indiana-avenue|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 13, 2020, the [[Indianapolis City-County Council]] passed a resolution, with 21 of 25 councillors in favor—every [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] supporting and every [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] opposing—directing the painting of "Black Lives Matter" on Indiana Ave, calling it "an anti-racist message".<ref>{{Cite web|title=City-County Council approves request for painting of 'Black Lives Matter' message on downtown street|url=https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/city-county-council-black-lives-matter-painting-downtown-indianapolis/531-da703bd9-e6c9-4f26-a29a-4e3a5538690f|access-date=2021-02-21|website=wthr.com|date=14 July 2020 |language=en-US|archive-date=2020-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909194803/https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/city-county-council-black-lives-matter-painting-downtown-indianapolis/531-da703bd9-e6c9-4f26-a29a-4e3a5538690f|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Pak-Harvey|first=Amelia|title=Indianapolis to paint 'Black lives matter' on downtown street|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/marion-county/2020/07/14/indianapolis-paint-black-lives-matter-street-condemn-racism/5433810002/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=The Indianapolis Star|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208001752/https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/marion-county/2020/07/14/indianapolis-paint-black-lives-matter-street-condemn-racism/5433810002/|url-status=live}}</ref> While the Indianapolis Department of Public Works was tasked with coordinating the painting, the effort was organized by Indy10, and funded with the support of local community organizations, including the Indianapolis [[National Urban League|Urban League]] and the [[Central Indiana Community Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pak-Harvey|first=Amelia|title=Indy 10 Black Lives Matter seeks Black artists to complete street mural|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/marion-county/2020/07/15/indy-10-black-lives-matter-seeks-artists-mural/5443169002/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=The Indianapolis Star|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302144533/https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/marion-county/2020/07/15/indy-10-black-lives-matter-seeks-artists-mural/5443169002/|url-status=live}}</ref> Artists were paid fees for their work by funding provided by [[Tamika Catchings]], [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] player for the [[Indiana Fever]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title='Black Lives Matter' mural project continues conversation on equality|url=https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/black-lives-matter-mural-project-continues-conversation-on-equality-indiana-avenue/531-946fd5ef-e0c5-489b-b6f0-e15ece7d9ee4|access-date=2021-06-18|website=wthr.com|date=2 August 2020 |language=en-US|archive-date=2020-12-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230051229/https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/black-lives-matter-mural-project-continues-conversation-on-equality-indiana-avenue/531-946fd5ef-e0c5-489b-b6f0-e15ece7d9ee4|url-status=live}}</ref> Soon after the council resolution, Indy10, working with local arts advocates Stacia Moon, [[Mali Jeffers]] and [[Alan Bacon]], put out a call to the community seeking artists for the mural, as well as performers for the event when it would be painted.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Performers, Volunteers and Black Visual Artists Needed for Black Lives Matter Mural and Festival|url=https://www.indyartsguide.org/classified/performers-volunteers-and-black-visual-artists-needed-for-black-lives-matter-mural-and-festival/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=IndyArtsGuide.org|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920015252/https://www.indyartsguide.org/classified/performers-volunteers-and-black-visual-artists-needed-for-black-lives-matter-mural-and-festival/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Scott|first=Chadd|title=Indianapolis Preserving And Presenting Its Activist Art From The Tumultuous Summer Of 2020|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chaddscott/2020/11/13/indianapolis-preserving-and-presenting-its-activist-art-from-the-tumultous-summer-of-2020/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Forbes|language=en|archive-date=2021-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216035324/https://www.forbes.com/sites/chaddscott/2020/11/13/indianapolis-preserving-and-presenting-its-activist-art-from-the-tumultous-summer-of-2020/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The mural was painted beginning on the morning of Saturday, August 1, 2020. The weekend of the painting, Indiana Ave was closed, and community groups organized a public festival with speakers, music, and spoken word performances. There was also a reading of names of people who had been killed by police, and involvement from family and community members connected with them. Like the mural, the event was described as not just about police killings, but as reclaiming Indiana Ave for its community and celebrating Black joy.<ref name=":1" /> The event was mostly full of supporters, but there were a small number of counter protestors and security was present.<ref>{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=2020-08-02|title=Artists Paint 'Black Lives Matter' Indianapolis Street Mural|url=https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/artists-paint-black-lives-matter-indianapolis-street-mural|access-date=2021-06-18|website=WFYI Public Media|language=en-us|archive-date=2020-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922100913/https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/artists-paint-black-lives-matter-indianapolis-street-mural|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite Saturday rain, the painting was completed on Sunday.<ref name=":2" />

The block of Indiana Ave with the mural was first closed vehicular traffic through Monday, August 3, then extended to Thursday, August 6 to allow time for paint to dry.<ref>{{Cite web|last=May|first=Ethan|title=Indiana Avenue closure for painting of Black Lives Matter mural extended|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/transportation/2020/07/29/indianapolis-black-lives-matter-mural-painting-close-indiana-avenue/5539970002/|access-date=2021-06-18|website=The Indianapolis Star|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302150944/https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/transportation/2020/07/29/indianapolis-black-lives-matter-mural-painting-close-indiana-avenue/5539970002/|url-status=live}}</ref> Eventually, the closure was extended to [[Labor Day]] to allow additional time for public viewing.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Bongiovanni|first=Domenica|title=18 artists painted a Black Lives Matter mural on Indiana Ave. Here's what's next for them.|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/arts/2020/10/14/black-lives-matter-artists-have-show-indianapolis-art-center/5972889002/|access-date=2021-06-18|website=The Indianapolis Star|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105122812/https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/arts/2020/10/14/black-lives-matter-artists-have-show-indianapolis-art-center/5972889002/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Vandalism ===
Overnight on the morning of Sunday, August 9, about one week after the mural was completed, it was defaced with white and gray paint splatter across the length of the mural.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Scheer|first=Justin L. Mack and Robert|title=Downtown Indianapolis 'Black Lives Matter' mural on Indiana Avenue defaced|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2020/08/09/downtown-indianapolis-black-lives-matter-mural-defaced/3329893001/|access-date=2021-06-18|website=The Indianapolis Star|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-12-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216130120/https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2020/08/09/downtown-indianapolis-black-lives-matter-mural-defaced/3329893001/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department]] stated that it was investigating the vandalism as a crime. Several of the mural's artists expressed their lack of surprise at the occurrence, and the group of artists and organizers released a statement that "the vandalism that occurred is a visual depiction of what hate looks like."<ref>{{Cite web|last=News|first=WFYI|date=2020-08-09|title=Downtown Indianapolis 'Black Lives Matter' Mural Defaced|url=https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/downtown-indianapolis-black-lives-matter-mural-defaced|access-date=2021-06-18|website=WFYI Public Media|language=en-us|archive-date=2020-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921170615/https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/downtown-indianapolis-black-lives-matter-mural-defaced|url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequently, the artists stated their intention to leave the vandalism in place, saying it was demonstrative of the racism the mural was seeking to address.<ref name=":3" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Portal|Visual arts}}
*

{{Black Lives Matter}}

[[Category:2020 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:2020 paintings]]
[[Category:African-American history of Indianapolis]]
[[Category:Black Lives Matter art]]
[[Category:Murals in Indiana]]
[[Category:Public art in Indiana]]
[[Category:Vandalized works of art in Indiana]]

Black Lives Matter street mural (Indianapolis) - Revision history

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