Week Seven: Black Lives Matter

What is your experience of this installation and how does it help memorialize these individuals?

This wasn’t my first time visiting the installation, and I’m glad I got another chance to take a closer look. My experience was very slow. I didn’t want to rush through reading or taking in everything. I know the stories (as much as I can from a complete outsider’s perspective). The words the artists put on the monuments were intentional and I wanted to make sure I was getting their message. I think the size of these monuments help memorialize the individuals. They are large, bronze, and cannot be moved. I think these qualities, in a way, is showing how they are cemented in our history forever.

How does it compare to the other monuments viewed this Fall?

Without a doubt this was the busiest monument we have seen all semester. There were people everywhere, it was sparking discussion among many. I think this sparked discussion because we all lived through these moments in history. We feel attached to them. The other monuments, while still important, were a long time ago. We learned about them in school. We saw John Lewis, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor on the news. I think this piece is different because it’s more personal.

Include photographs of the installation.

This is my favorite photo from the night.