海角大神

This article appeared in the May 04, 2021 edition of the Monitor Daily.

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鈥楩illed with her spirit鈥: How art helps heal Breonna Taylor鈥檚 city

Photo by Joseph Hyde/漏 Amy Sherald/Courtesy of Amy Sherald/Speed Art Museum
A posthumous portrait of Breonna Taylor, painted by Amy Sherald in 2020, is the centerpiece of the Speed Art Museum's exhibition, 鈥淧romise, Witness, Remembrance.鈥
April Austin
Weekly Deputy Editor, Books Editor

When the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, approached Breonna Taylor鈥檚 mother about an exhibition in her daughter鈥檚 honor, she was surprised. Tamika Palmer did not expect her daughter, who was shot in her apartment by police in 2020, to be remembered in this way, nor did she dream of being asked to help, she told . The exhibition, which opened last month, not only celebrates Ms. Taylor鈥檚 life, but also reflects the unusual collaboration that made the show possible.聽聽

Along with involving Ms. Taylor鈥檚 family, the museum sought advice from Black artists and Louisville activists. The result: a show of about 30 works of art, including portraiture, installations, and video 鈥 all created by Black artists. The exhibition also features photographs of the protests against racial injustice and police violence that erupted in the city last year. The Speed museum has given the exhibition pride of place, clearing several galleries of its permanent collection to make room.聽

Could this exhibit help heal a fractured community? Already some signs suggest the answer is yes. Local activists, who wondered what to expect from an institution not known for its outreach to people of color, came away moved by the experience. Many, like activist , were glad to see work exclusively from Black artists, instead of 鈥渁 bunch of white folks doing their interpretation [of what] they thought it should be.鈥澛

Ms. Taylor鈥檚 mother, who contributed a timeline of her daughter鈥檚 life, said it felt peaceful 鈥渢o be able to come to this place and just be filled with her spirit.鈥澛


This article appeared in the May 04, 2021 edition of the Monitor Daily.

Read 05/04 edition
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