Spontaneous Collaborative Art

I wanted to share with you one of the coolest pieces of collaborative art that I’ve ever seen that is happening right now.

This 60 foot sculpture of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Virginia unveiled on May 29, 1890 is currently scheduled to be removed. Pending the removal, there’s a very powerful expression happening at the site.

This sculpture was based on a lithograph commissioned by the Lee Monument Association using a painting by artist Adalbert J. Volck as reference.

It was then sculpted out of bronze by French sculptor Antonin Mercie.

Fast forward to present day following the death of George Floyd and the decision to remove the statue, there has been an outpouring of creative expression being seen at this site.

From the hundreds of words and pictures added to the sculpture, the projections added at night, the photographers capturing the scene. Dancers, poets, writers, musicians choosing the scene as their backdrop and inspiration. It is beautiful to see how many people have contributed to this evolving piece of public art.

I found this particular image (accompanied by her story) on Instagram by writer @ cleowade
Projection by @ videometry
Photograph by @ alexis_delilah

And this definitely is not the only place - protest art is popping up all over the country!

From large murals adorning streets, paintings on boarded up businesses, posters covering the wall erected around the White House. Creative expression is springing up everywhere.