Protest Signs, Art Headed for US Smithsonian Institution
2020-06-18
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1Demonstrators in Washington, D.C. recently covered a large temporary fence in front of the White House with signs, paintings and pictures.
2The art appeared during protests against the killing of George Floyd.
3Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after being arrested by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
4The incident has caused unrest nationwide.
5Many of the objects and pieces of art were hung in memory of black men, women and children who have lost their lives in violence linked to police actions.
6Now, those tributes are being collected for a more permanent home at the Smithsonian Institution.
7The tall, temporary fence was not the only place where artwork has appeared.
8In central Washington, office buildings and windows of restaurants that normally appeal to business leaders have been covered with plywood.
9The strong, thin material was meant to protect against property damage that took place in the city earlier this month.
10Local artists soon began using the plywood as a surface for paintings and messages.
11Levi Robinson is one of those artists.
12One of his pieces appears on the boarded-up window of a restaurant in Black Lives Matter Plaza, a recently-renamed area near the White House.
13He described the artwork to Reuters reporters: "I decided to show black medics who serve in the military after speaking with some examples who were on site handing out water."
14He said the medics "began to tell me their stories."
15Aaron Bryant is a photography and social protest historian at the African American History and Culture Museum.
16The museum is one of several that makeup the Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
17Bryant is leading the team of museum workers collecting plywood paintings, signs and objects that will one day represent this moment in history.
18He said protest artwork of the 1960s civil rights period were often made by professional artists.
19This moment's artwork, he said, is different.
20"Today, people are making signs by hand and running out of the door," Bryant said.
21"There is more diversity in the signs you see."
22He added, "It's hard to talk about this moment's artwork with one common denominator, but what I see is this idea of humanity and community.
23People coming together to make...messages that will last for generations."
24The Washington-based P.A.I.N.T.S Institute helped organize 42 artists and volunteers to design murals in Black Lives Matter Plaza.
25The murals show black men and women.
26Some are wearing face masks.
27The murals have words like "Let Us Breathe" and "God is Love."
28Jemn Napper is a first-time public mural artist.
29She said she hopes her downtown Washington pieces help people understand that "even though we may have our differences, we can all play a part to come together and create change."
30I'm Ashley Thompson.
1Demonstrators in Washington, D.C. recently covered a large temporary fence in front of the White House with signs, paintings and pictures. The art appeared during protests against the killing of George Floyd. 2Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after being arrested by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The incident has caused unrest nationwide. 3Many of the objects and pieces of art were hung in memory of black men, women and children who have lost their lives in violence linked to police actions. 4Now, those tributes are being collected for a more permanent home at the Smithsonian Institution. 5The tall, temporary fence was not the only place where artwork has appeared. 6In central Washington, office buildings and windows of restaurants that normally appeal to business leaders have been covered with plywood. The strong, thin material was meant to protect against property damage that took place in the city earlier this month. 7Local artists soon began using the plywood as a surface for paintings and messages. Levi Robinson is one of those artists. One of his pieces appears on the boarded-up window of a restaurant in Black Lives Matter Plaza, a recently-renamed area near the White House. 8He described the artwork to Reuters reporters: "I decided to show black medics who serve in the military after speaking with some examples who were on site handing out water." He said the medics "began to tell me their stories." 9Aaron Bryant is a photography and social protest historian at the African American History and Culture Museum. The museum is one of several that makeup the Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. 10Bryant is leading the team of museum workers collecting plywood paintings, signs and objects that will one day represent this moment in history. 11He said protest artwork of the 1960s civil rights period were often made by professional artists. This moment's artwork, he said, is different. 12"Today, people are making signs by hand and running out of the door," Bryant said. "There is more diversity in the signs you see." 13He added, "It's hard to talk about this moment's artwork with one common denominator, but what I see is this idea of humanity and community. People coming together to make...messages that will last for generations." 14The Washington-based P.A.I.N.T.S Institute helped organize 42 artists and volunteers to design murals in Black Lives Matter Plaza. The murals show black men and women. Some are wearing face masks. The murals have words like "Let Us Breathe" and "God is Love." 15Jemn Napper is a first-time public mural artist. She said she hopes her downtown Washington pieces help people understand that "even though we may have our differences, we can all play a part to come together and create change." 16I'm Ashley Thompson. 17Katanga Johnson reported this story for Reuters. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 18_____________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20tribute -n. something that you say, give, or do to show respect or affection for someone 21boarded-up -adj. related to covering or closing (something) with pieces of wood 22medic -n. a person who does medical work 23on site -adv. at the place where a business or activity happens 24moment -n. a very short period of time 25common denominator -n. something (such as a feature or quality) that is shared by all the members of a group of people or things 26mural -n. a usually large painting that is done directly on the surface of a wall