The Town Hall Black Lives Matter mural project team is being led by Hartford artist Khaiim A.K.A Self Suffice and Stephen (Stefon) Richmond, owner of Painting with A Twist Hartford. The team includes more than 15 artists from Bloomfield and across Greater Hartford. The group includes educators Zazzarro Decarish and Sacha Kelly, muralists Michael Borders and Chris Gann, and several well-known and newer artists including Aariyan Googe, Che’ La’Mora, and Trae Brooks. The Hartford Foundation grant will cover stipends for the stencilers, supervisors, and artists, and the cost of supplies and gift cards for youth assisting on the project]]>
This Black Lives Matter Mural is located on the outskirts of Hartford, Connecticut, in a city called Bloomfield. This inspirational piece is at the center of the town square for everyone to walk around and observe. Under the leadership of Hartford artist, Stephen Richmond, other artists helped create this vibrant and colorful BLM mural. It is on the pavement in a vehicular turnaround in front of Bloomfield Town Hall. It was created in a way to celebrate Black pride and show support to those who want to decentralize racial inequality. This overall piece consists of the words “Black Lives Matter” in bubble letters with a black power fist at the end. Each letter has a different painting representing a unique and influential story.  

This 90-foot mural was the first of three created in the summer of 2020. Each letter was assigned to a different artist who gave their personal story about what Black Lives Matter means to them. Richmond, the artist in charge said, “Black Lives Matter murals are a sign of protest, to show that when we’re not here peacefully protesting, we’ll be back,” The goal of this mural was to bring everyone together and make aware of some of the issues that most of society is facing. “Bloomfield is a majority Black town, so this is more a message of solidarity and empathy. We do not have to protest in this town. But we are aware of what is happening elsewhere,” said Richmond. 

This city-approved mural still stands today. 

Researched by Maddy Swartzmiller

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News Coverage by Fox 61 and Hartford Courant]]>
2020-08-30]]>
Photographer: Hartford Courant]]>
Stephen Larrick, Black Lives Matter Street Mural Census]]>