The Minneapolis Lily Project Fund
Donation protected
On May 25th, George Floyd was killed in the heart of Minneapolis. Since then, a wave of protests have demanded justice for Floyd. The fight that was sparked by the death of Mr. Floyd has into a cry of outrage by the city against the institutionalized racism that our foundation lays on. Across the city groups have sprung up to demand justice and an end to the oppression of thousands of BIPOC Minnesotans.
The Minneapolis Lily project is a student-led organization that demands change to the systemic racism and oppression in the twin cities through a massive mural made up of smaller artworks spanning across the city.
The Minneapolis Lily Project is an initiative led by the students of South, Southwest, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Washburn, and Kennedy high schools as well as Barton k-8 open.
The funds will be used to purchase supplies from local and specifically black owned businesses. The supplies will be used by mostly student artists across the twin cities to paint lilies in a multitude of styles and messages. The supplies include paints, masks, tools, clothing and food for the artists. It will also be covering transportation to the sites. We are contacting local businesses in all sorts of buildings to get approval for the murals on the sites in which we are working. We are not held accountable for artists outside of the organization putting parts of the mural on sites that are not approved by the owner of the building. We ask that anyone that wants to participate gets consent from the owner of the building they wish to create their work on.
The symbolism of lilies stems (pun intended) from a huge number of cultures and religions. In many it symbolizes death and the departing of the soul from our world. In Minneapolis, this means the death of the systems of oppression and violence that thrive here. In this sense it can also mean the grief and mourning of the people we've lost to police brutality. In other cultures, lilies symbolize renewal/rebirth, transitioning and renewal. It symbolizes our hope for change and through a massive network of art in every corner of our city we can change and transition to a community that values life above all. The lily is also known as the trinity symbol, with its three petals holding the representation of three virtues: Charity, Hope and Faith. The combination of these many values and symbols provide an opportunity for art to create both a message and a change to our community.
America has always been advertised as the land of opportunity. However, inequality in opportunity has never been more prevalent. It would mean the world to us if we could have the supplies needed to make change. throughout history, traditional art has long been a form purely for the upper class. Supplies are only available to only those that have the spare income. Especially in this time of unprecedented unemployment, many of us lack the financial capability to help create the mural. Giving your support to the change makers of the future generation and to the artists that will change the world creates opportunity and benefits you by making a permanent impact to the twin cities. Art is one of the most powerful political forces that exist, and arguably the most lasting. Helping to create a political mural that spans across cities will be historic.
The creation of the mural will happen throughout the summer. Our goal is for the mural to spread to other cities across the US and eventually around the world, making it the largest mural in the world. Everyone that lives in the cities that the lilies touch will benefit. They will be a political change maker that will create a better world for everyone.
We are beyond grateful for your help and contributions. They allow us to speak, to make our message clear. To give someone a voice is a gift that cannot be matched.
The Minneapolis Lily project is a student-led organization that demands change to the systemic racism and oppression in the twin cities through a massive mural made up of smaller artworks spanning across the city.
The Minneapolis Lily Project is an initiative led by the students of South, Southwest, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Washburn, and Kennedy high schools as well as Barton k-8 open.
The funds will be used to purchase supplies from local and specifically black owned businesses. The supplies will be used by mostly student artists across the twin cities to paint lilies in a multitude of styles and messages. The supplies include paints, masks, tools, clothing and food for the artists. It will also be covering transportation to the sites. We are contacting local businesses in all sorts of buildings to get approval for the murals on the sites in which we are working. We are not held accountable for artists outside of the organization putting parts of the mural on sites that are not approved by the owner of the building. We ask that anyone that wants to participate gets consent from the owner of the building they wish to create their work on.
The symbolism of lilies stems (pun intended) from a huge number of cultures and religions. In many it symbolizes death and the departing of the soul from our world. In Minneapolis, this means the death of the systems of oppression and violence that thrive here. In this sense it can also mean the grief and mourning of the people we've lost to police brutality. In other cultures, lilies symbolize renewal/rebirth, transitioning and renewal. It symbolizes our hope for change and through a massive network of art in every corner of our city we can change and transition to a community that values life above all. The lily is also known as the trinity symbol, with its three petals holding the representation of three virtues: Charity, Hope and Faith. The combination of these many values and symbols provide an opportunity for art to create both a message and a change to our community.
America has always been advertised as the land of opportunity. However, inequality in opportunity has never been more prevalent. It would mean the world to us if we could have the supplies needed to make change. throughout history, traditional art has long been a form purely for the upper class. Supplies are only available to only those that have the spare income. Especially in this time of unprecedented unemployment, many of us lack the financial capability to help create the mural. Giving your support to the change makers of the future generation and to the artists that will change the world creates opportunity and benefits you by making a permanent impact to the twin cities. Art is one of the most powerful political forces that exist, and arguably the most lasting. Helping to create a political mural that spans across cities will be historic.
The creation of the mural will happen throughout the summer. Our goal is for the mural to spread to other cities across the US and eventually around the world, making it the largest mural in the world. Everyone that lives in the cities that the lilies touch will benefit. They will be a political change maker that will create a better world for everyone.
We are beyond grateful for your help and contributions. They allow us to speak, to make our message clear. To give someone a voice is a gift that cannot be matched.
Organizer and beneficiary
Ezra Gearhart
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
Micah Gearhart
Beneficiary