Part of the powerful mural Baltimore artist Nether is painting in memory of Freddie Gray
Recently here in Baltimore, Freddie Gray’s young life came to an abrupt and tragic end at the corner of N. Mount and Presbury Streets.
On the opposite street corner, Baltimore artist Nether is painting a mural on the side of a rowhouse. Freddie’s best friend Brandon helped Nether design the mural. Their goal is to send a positive message of solidarity and hope for a new start out to the local community, the city of Baltimore, and indeed the nation.
Over the past 3 days Nether has worked on the mural which consists of three panels. It is a powerful and moving piece of artwork. The central panel is a larger-than-life bust of Freddie Gray. The left panel shows the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. leading a march in 1968. The right-side panel shows Freddie’s family and friends leading the march for peace last week in the neighborhood.
Nether gladly takes the time to talk with local residents and with press from around the world. He explains that Black lives matter – that the march for equality, hope, education, opportunity, and freedom from police brutality here in Baltimore has been a work in progress since the mid-1960’s. Nether’s mural and other community plans to use Freddie Gray’s tragic end as a new beginning are powerful, positive steps toward a brighter future.
Below you can see a number of images showing the progress of the mural. Stay tuned here for additional images as Nether nears completion of his artwork over the weekend.
N. Mount and Presbury Streets where Freddie Gray’s life came to an abrupt, tragic end
In memory of Freddie Gray
Nether at work on his triptych mural
The left panel shows the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. leading a march in 1968
The central panel displays a bust of Freddie Gray.
The right-side panel shows Freddie’s brother Brandon and friends leading the march for peace last week.
Nether adds detail and dimensionality to his mural of Freddie Gray.
Nether talking with community residents about the mural
Nether and the Rev. Dr. Daki
Adding detail to the left-side panel
Working on the left-side panel
Nether double-checks the progress of his artwork.
The left-panel nearing completion
The left-side panel nears completion.
Checking other photos shot by Freddie’s friends during the march for peace
Near the end of the day Nether is still busy working on his mural.
Black lives matter
An artist remembers
Neighbors check the development of the mural.
Painting in the sky
Nether works on the right-hand panel of his Freddie Gray triptych.
Adding the sky color to the left-hand panel.
A young man checks out the mural.
Early morning view
As they walk by, community members admire the mural.
Exchanging thoughts, ideas and a story
Exchanging thoughts, ideas and a story or two
Nether acknowledging words of admiration and thanks from passersby
On the way to school
© All images and text are copyrighted and are the property of David Muse, unless noted otherwise. You may use any images or text for non-commercial purposes only if you credit the photographer and Charm City Streets. Thank you!