The Board of Directors of Chestertown RiverArts supports the creation of the proposed street murals dedicated to anti-racism. RiverArts’ mission is “growing community, creativity, and connection through the Arts.” Our support of the mural project builds on our commitment to creating a more inclusive community where all citizens are welcome and valued.
We believe that public art should attract attention and create dialogue; it can be transformational to society. This mural project will continue to open a discussion that our community desperately needs. We support the project as a complement to the strategic action and policy changes that are needed to change the centuries old inequalities that split our community.
Pamela White
President, Board of Directors
Chestertown RiverArts
Dr. Loralie Lawson says
We all know that Chestertown is a special place to live–known, among other things, for it’s history. We even celebrate its possibly mythological history with the wonderful Chestertown Tea Party festival (as I understand it, there is no documentation that it actually took place as we understand it today).
One piece of actual, documented history that we do not want to talk about so much is that Chestertown once had a large, thriving slave market. This is something we are (I hope) ashamed of.
So if we can get real here and actually try to do something concerning our checkered past, it makes sense to me that we acknowledge where we were and move forward to affirm where we (I hope) want to be. So I am in favor of street art and anything else positive we can do to support Black Lives Matter.
Lori Lawson, Heron Point