Partial reprint
Edreys Wajed and James “Yames” Moffitt |
Love Black
“Love Black boys even when they become men,” and
“Love
Black girls even when they become women.”
By Queenseyes
Buffalo
Rising,
Sept. 11, 2020
The
Albright-Knox’s
latest
mural project will see artists Edreys Wajed and James
“Yames” Moffitt paint a piece titled “Love
Black” at Say Yes Buffalo at 712 Main
Street. The public
work of art sends the message that we must “continually
reevaluate
relationships with Black people throughout our nation and
recognize
that we must love our adult Black neighbors, coworkers,
partners, and
all people of color.”
As the Black Lives Matter campaign continues to grow, and
ripple
outwards, more institutions are picking up the message and
running with
it. Now the AK is getting onboard by sponsoring the mural
that will be
another daily reminder that the civic conversation has
only just begun,
and will be amplified in days, weeks, months, and years to
come.
“Love Black Boys and Love Black Girls is a phrase and
design I’ve been
massaging for years now,” said Wajed.
“It
wasn’t until a dear friend added the later portion ‘even
when they
become men and women,’ that the full design and concept
truly came to
be.”
Together, Yames
(muralist and sign
painter) and Wajed
(musician,
poet, playwright, and designer) will continue from where The
Freedom Wall
project left off. Wajed was one of the contributors to
that wall that
has become an enduring symbol of civil and social black
contributions.
This social justice and antiracism message is clear as
day: “Love Black
boys even when they become men,” and “Love Black girls
even when they
become women.”
This mural is produced by the Albright-Knox Public Art
Initiative in
close collaboration with Say
Yes
Buffalo and Clover
Group,
Inc.
|
WORK IN PROGRESS - SEPTEMBER 11, 2020
WORK IN PROGRESS
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 ... Ansonia
Building
designed by Esenwein
& Johnson
... Facade: White, glazed terra
cotta
in Beaux-Arts
Neoclassical
style ... Yames Moffit at work
on an Albright-Knox-rented lift ...
WORK IN PROGRESS
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2020
 .......
WORK IN PROGRESS
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2020
“Love
Black boys even when they
become men,” and “Love Black girls even when they become
women.”
WORK IN PROGRESS
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 ...
James
“Yames” Moffitt
WORK IN PROGRESS
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2020
Right:
Edreys
Wajed
|