Street Art

— ABOUT MY WORK
During the summer of 2020, I was a member of a collaborative team that brought a Black Lives Matter mural to Rose St in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This endeavor brought together hundreds of volunteers that included artists, students, activists and community members, all who joined forces to leave their mark and share messages of love and support.

My specific task was to design the typography and create the canvas on which people would paint. To begin, I used satellite imagery provided by Google Maps to mock up the layout with the correct proportions. The words “Black Lives Matter” were to be spelled out in the center lane of the roadway, measuring 80″ x 1613″. We used large stencils and designated landmarks to keep the wording as centered as possible, even though the road was not perfectly square.

Because Rose Street is a busy thoroughfare, we had to coordinate with Kalamazoo Police and Public Works Officials to ensure the safety of everyone involved. The mural was completed during a long and challenging sixteen-hour day.

In the days following completion, artists and community members would return and add new “enhancements.” This aerial view of the mural was used as the basis for a fundraising T-shirt.