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Shelby Fry graced me with her time to tell us about the roller coaster ride she has been on while creating the newest mural of downtown Dubuque called Solidarity.  The mural is underway at the time of recording and is supposed to be done around July 2-3 so go check it out.

Thank you Shelby for being a source of positive energy in out community.

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Mural Information 

As the protests continue, the Black Lives Matter movement is more important than ever. I wanted to show that Dubuque stands for solidarity and strength amongst its citizens through the multi colored fists. Keeping the mural inclusive, I also wanted to represent the LGBTQ community, women, men, and trans rights, support for mental/brain health, as well as people with disabilities. With that in mind, getting local organizations of different color, sexual orientation, and any other group that may feel excluded involved is key. We need to come together in times of uncertainty and show that each life is important and if we work together we can make something beautiful. 

Seeing people post on social media, donating to causes, participating in protests, etc. inspired me to figure out the best way to use my talents to bring a community together and promote a positive message of acceptance. Creating this piece gave me the chance to express my voice and support for Black Lives Matter and the local community I now belong to. With the mural as a starting point, I am also planning to create prints and t-shirts to sell in order to raise money for the BLM movement.

Size: 28’ x 105’ 

Location: Five Flags Center 

DESIGN CHOICES 

 Clenched Colored Fists - BLM, ​The raised fist, or the clenched fist, is a symbol of solidarity and support. 

A lineup of clenched fists painted in a wide variety of pantones meant to represent people of all different races and skin tones including those born with albinism, or an inherited genetic condition that reduces the amount of melanin pigment formed in the skin, hair and/or eyes, and those who experience vitiligo, a long-term skin condition characterized by patches of the skin losing their pigment. I choose to use the clenched fist as opposed to an open fist, waving or embracing hands, as the clenched fist has come to serve as a symbol for solidarity and strength in the context of the current Black Lives Matter movement.

Letters and Symbols that spell out SOLIDARITY ● S - Adobe font, decorative only ● O - Formed by the wheel of a stylized version of the International Symbol for Access and intended to represent individuals with physical disabilities  ● L - Adobe font, decorative only ● I - The semicolon, especially as a tattoo on the wrist, has come to serve as message of affirmation and solidarity in the awareness and prevention of suicide, depression, addiction, and other brain health issues ​Learn more about the Semicolon Tattoo ● D - The rainbow intends represent the LGBTQ Community, it is turned on its side to be able to form a ‘D’ ​Learn more about the rainbow as a symbol for the LGBTQ community ● A - Adobe Font, decorative only ● R - Adobe Font, decorative only ● I - The heart, as a universal symbol for love, dots the I to incorporate love, positivity, and respect for all humans in the mural design. The staff of the I is a decorate font only. Learn more about the heart as a symbol for love ● T - Adobe font, decorative only ● Y - Combining the symbols traditional used to represent male, female, and transgender people, the Y intends to represent all genders