“Art is to console those who are broken by life” - Vincent van Gogh
Never To Be Forgotten
May 25, 2020 is one of the most important dates in America’s history since 9/11.
This is the day African-American man George Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as he cried out for his late mother with his last breaths.
In tribute to George Floyd, his family and everyone fighting against systemic racism in American society, Trina Merry produced a touching mural, encapsulating the sadness of his senseless death, tinged with some hope for justice.
Filmed by a bystander, the 46-year-old’s death sent shockwaves of emotion and outrage across North America and the rest of the world.
‘No Justice! No Peace!’ followed by ‘Black Lives Matter!’
From the streets of Los Angeles to Cape Town to London to Tokyo, these defiant chants calling for change grow louder and louder daily.
King George Floyd
Perhaps the most famous ‘King George’ was the ‘mad’ English king who led the ‘Red Coats’ to defeat against the American revolution, which later led to Independence on July 4, 1776.
Crown a new king, Trina Merry offers a completely new spin.
George Floyd’s face, filled with a spectrum of white and black shades, stands as the centerpiece of the mural, with a large, shiny gold crown floating suitability above his head.
Very fitting. For this is the man whose suffering has re-energized the movement for the eradication of systemic racism and police brutality.
His deep-set eyes and soft face draw your attention immediately, against the harsh outdoor surface. On his black top, the painful words George Floyd gasped mercifully, as he struggled to breath, are scribbled in a chalkboard style. ‘I can’t breathe’, ‘ please don’t kill me’ and of course his painful cry for his ‘mama’ are all visible to the viewer, and relive his final moments.
To the left of George Floyd’s face is the depiction of cartoon character Daffy Duck imitating the famous Uncle Sam poster. The Uncle Sam poster was originally used to urge young men to enlist in the war effort during the First World War. As an onlooker, you’re immediately confronted by the large wagging finger hoisted in your direction - a memorable attribute Trina Merry reinterpreted from the original by illustrator James Montgomery Flagg in 1916.
To the right of the Houston-native’s head, stands a stern Harriet Tubman with red paint smeared across her eyes. An American hero, herself, Tubman was a black woman born into slavery. Yet she escaped the plantation and helped rescue 70 other enslaved people with the help of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.
Below the stunning figure of Tubman is the Trina Merry’s honoring of modern classic, the Defacement by Jean-Michel Basquiat. The juxtaposition of all the scenes is both powerful and eerie, providing a snapshot of the ongoing struggle for equal rights for African Americans. Jean-Michel Basquiat, of course, made Defacement to tell the story of Michael Stewart’s untimely death.
Stewart was allegedly beaten up by police officers, who arrested him for drawing on the walls of the subway on 15 September 1983. The cops involved reported that he fell after attempting to escape police custody. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old never recovered from the injuries to his brain and died in hospital. What happened to the officers involved? Well, they were ‘acquitted of any wrongdoing.’
A Fitting George Floyd Mural Tribute
Trina Merry’s George Floyd Mural also signifies resilience and support for the city’s small businesses, local residents and distinctive culture.
Accompanied by her masterful paintbrush, Trina Merry took to the streets of downtown Dallas, which was still reeling from several nights of mass protests.
Her canvas? The boarded-up properties of Deep Ellum. The 8x12” inches mural stood tall on the boarded-up windows of Common Desk, a trendy coworking space for Dallas’ professionals, freelancers and business owners.
Pre-Coronavirus lockdown, the district of Deep Ellum was a lively entertainment area filled with art, restaurants, and bars. However, the enforced quarantine plus the threat of property damage and looting has prevented many shop owners from opening their doors.
After 11 hours of painstaking painting, Trina Merry’s mural was complete – shining a bright light through the heart of the city to attract locals. And anyone can view it and grab a few selfies!
In true Trina Merry-style, the world champion body painter camouflaged an African-American woman into the mural scene seamlessly. Bringing a subtle feminine presence to the piece, the model’s painted flesh caressed the image’s coarse background.
Describing the experience, Nastoojah said on Instagram - “Today I was able to be apart of something AMAZING! This was the end result 💕 Thank you @trinamerryart for allowing me to be apart of something so meaningful. #GeorgeFloyd”
