Black Lives Matter Street Mural, Petaluma, CA

Adrian Arias, Amelia Bell, Rachel Brooks Richardson, Michelle Carnes, Deborah Garber, Michaela Goldstein, Diego Gonzalez-Fuentes, Leslie Ihrig, Mariela Jacamo, Marla Pedersen, Kristi Quint, Jennifer Shada, Dayna Stevens, Jennifer Vertz, Amaya Yoshikawa and Laura Young

Black Lives Matter Street Mural, Petaluma, CA

38.242621, -122.631179

"Black Lives Matter" is painted on the pavement. Each letter portrays a different theme, from a stylized representation of African mud cloth to a portrait of civil rights hero John Lewis.

In August of 2020, The City of Petaluma's Public Art Committee facilitated this temporary sanctioned Black Lives Matter Mural. The mural can be found at 100 Fairgrounds Drive in Petaluma, California. There were four meetings that took place before this mural was approved: three of which were held by the Public Art Committee and one conducted by the city council on July 6th, 2020. The mural was approved without hesitation.

There is little information as to exactly how the mural came to no longer exist, but the city granted the mural to be a temporary sanctioned piece of art. Therefore, there is no indication of vandalism or negligent removal of the mural. This mural was created in response to the death of George Floyd which took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There are 16 artists that took part in creating this mural. Each artist painted a different letter showcasing their own personal expression. Each artist had a different story to share regarding something that has happened in their life or a loved one dealing with racial injustice.  

This mural was created by the following artists: Adrian Arias, Amelia Bell, Rachel Brooks Richardson, Michelle Carnes, Deborah Garber, Michaela Goldstein, Diego Gonzalez-Fuentes, Leslie Ihrig, Mariela Jacamo, Marla Pedersen, Kristi Quint, Jennifer Shada, Dayna Stevens, Jennifer Vertz, Amaya Yoshikawa and Laura Young. 

There are no other sanctioned BLM murals in the city. However, it is noted that many members of the community came together with Black Lives Matter signs in protest in numerous locations.  

Sources

Chris Bollini. 16 local artists each paint a letter to spell out black lives matter in Petaluma. 7 eyewitness news.  https://abc7ny.com/black-lives-matter-mural-petaluma-blm/6382391/  

Adrian Arias, Amelia Bell, Rachel Brooks Richardson, Michelle Carnes, Deborah Garber, Michaela Goldstein, Diego Gonzalez-Fuentes, Leslie Ihrig, Mariela Jacamo, Marla Pedersen, Kristi Quint, Jennifer Shada, Dayna Stevens, Jennifer Vertz, Amaya Yoshikawa and Laura Young, “Black Lives Matter Street Mural, Petaluma, CA,” George Floyd & Anti-Racist Street Art , accessed March 16, 2023, https://georgefloydstreetart.omeka.net/items/show/3464.  

Researched by the Urban Art Mapping Team

Image URL

News Coverage by City of Petaluma, ABC 7, and Argus Courier

Youtube video post by Localish

Youtube video post by Leslie Ihrig

Artists: Adrian Arias, Amelia Bell, Rachel Brooks Richardson, Michelle Carnes, Deborah Garber, Michaela Goldstein, Diego Gonzalez-Fuentes, Leslie Ihrig, Mariela Jacamo, Marla Pedersen, Kristi Quint, Jennifer Shada, Dayna Stevens, Jennifer Vertz, Amaya Yoshikawa, and Laura Young

Photographer: Petaluma Public Art Committee

Urban Art Mapping Research Project

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Located on 100 Fairgrounds Drive in front of the Petaluma Public Library