LAURA LEE GULLEDGE is a visual storyteller and creative explorer. She has authored three graphic novels for young adults plus an interactive sketchbook, and the new virtual adaption of her graphic novel musical Will & Whit is now available for licensing. Laura Lee is also a teaching artist who has taught in a wide array of settings both stateside and abroad. She currently lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with her studio cat Rory where likes dancing, hiking, and puns. She’s an everyday Artner Love advocate and continually striving Citizen Artist.
WEBSITE – whoislauralee.com — BLOG – whoislauralee.blogspot.com
INSTAGRAM @lauraleegulledge — TWITTER @whoislauralee — YOUTUBE @lauraleewashere
ARTIST STATEMENT
I’ve never really been a portrait artist,
but I wanted to paint a large scale portrait
of George Floyd for a Black Lives Matter
march to the Rotunda in June 2020…
I spent hours studying his face,
staring into his eyes, and sitting with his story.
I found that long after I put the sign down,
I still carried him with me.
Learning someone’s story
turns strangers into friends.
And painting someone?
It’s inherently an act of love.
As an artist, I follow love.
So I kept painting portraits,
making twelve in this series.
My intention was to honor & humanize
these beautiful humans who were victims
of police violence & racial injustice
in the spirit of amplification, celebration,
compassion, education, and allyship.
Because their lives mattered.
Because black lives matter.
May they rest & recover in power.
May we SAY THEIR NAMES.
May we love everyone.
About this Show: “Rest & Recover in Power”
“What would it mean to consider Black aliveness, especially given how readily–and literally–Blackness is indexed to death?” –Kevin Quashie
With each showing of this “Rest & Recover in Power” series the artist is painting NEW portraits celebrating Black figures “Living in Peace” like creative visionaries Kehinde Wiley and Amanda Gorman. Do you have a suggestion of who should be featured in the next portrait? Please pass them along: lauraleegulledge@gmail.com
AHMAUD ARBERY was a 25 year old man
in Brunswick, Georgia who was killed while out running when a white father & son chased him down in their truck and gunned him down. (Feb 2020) Arbery liked to run to clear his head, and was about to start school to become an electrician. He played football all through high school and was known for his good sense of humor & caring for others.
JACOB BLAKE is a 29 year old man
who was shot Kenosha, Wisconsin by police in the back seven times when opened the driver’s door to his SUV and leaned in. (Aug 2020) Three of Blake’s sons were in the backseat at the time. He had moved to Kenosha a few years before for a new job, fresh start, and safer home with his family. The shooting left him paralyzed from the waist down. After months of hospitalization, he is now in recovery at home.
GoFundMe for Jacob Blake:
www.gofundme.com/f/justiceforjacobblake
SANDRA BLAND was a 28 year old woman
who was pulled over in Walker County, Texas for not using her turn signal, arrested, and found hanged in police custody three days later. (July 2015) She was about to start a new job and was known for being outgoing and joyful. Bland was also a civil rights activist and part of the Black Lives Matter movement, using the hashtag #sandyspeaks. This incident inspired the Sandra Bland Act to better prevent mistreatment in the Texas criminal justice system in the future.
MICHAEL BROWN was an 18 year old boy
shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri eight days after his high school graduation, inspiring the rally cry “hands up don’t shoot.” (Aug 2014) Brown was an amateur rap musician under the handle “Big Mike” whose final lyrics included: “On my side of town when the sun go down you in trouble now. Devil get off my back I’ll knock you off your feet, another man down in my city why people so petty…”
Michael Brown Foundation/ Chosen for Change:
www.michaelbrownfoundation.org
GEORGE FLOYD was a 46 year old man
killed by police during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota after allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill. (May 2020) He died after the police knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. This incident sparked nationwide protests. Floyd was known for being a peacemaker and his positive vibes. He was a talented rapper known as “Big Floyd” who was part of the highly influential Houston-based Screwed up Click crew of the ’90’s.
GoFundMe for George Floyd’s daughter Gianna:
www.gofundme.com/f/gianna-floyd-daughter-of-george-floyd-fund
ELIJAH MCCLAIN was a 23 year old man
killed by police in Aurora, Colorado when walking home from the store with iced tea, because he looked “suspicious” wearing an open face ski mask. (Aug 2019) He died after being held in a chokehold by police and being sedated by parametics. McClain was a massage therapist and self-taught violinist. He was known for being an introverted, spiritual, animal loving, vegetarian, pacifist, exceedingly gentle person.
GoFundMe for Elijah McClain’s family:
www.gofundme.com/f/elijah-mcclain
TONY MCDADE was a 38 year old trans man
who was killed by police in Tallahasse, Florida. (May 2020) He had recently been released from prison and attacked by a group of men, one of whom he allegedly killed in revenge right before his death. One of his nicknames was “Tony the Tiger.” McDade struggled with mental health and gender identity, transitioning to being a man just a couple years before. He was known as a “true gemini” who loved to cook and harbored a secret singing talent.
GoFundMe for Tony McDade’s family:
www.gofundme/f/in-memory-of-tony-mcdade
MARCUS-DAVID PETERS was a 24 year old man
killed in Richmond, Virginia by police while having a mental health episode were he was unarmed and unclothed at the time. (May 2018) His family is calling for a “Marcus Alert” system that would bring in mental heath professionals as first responders in such situations, with police as back-up. Peters was a first year high school biology teacher with aspirations of starting a mentorship program for at-risk youth. The circle around the Lee Statue in RVA has been informally been renamed in his honor.
Justice & Reformation for Marcus David-Peters:
www.justiceandreformation.org
TAMIR RICE was a 12 year old boy
shot by police in Cleveland, Ohio who thought his toy gun was a real gun even the 911 caller said it was “probably fake.” (Nov 2014) Rice was remembered for being charming and popular. He liked to draw, play basketball and perform in the school’s drum line. His family is creating a cultural center for youth in Cleveland in his honor.
Tamir Rice Foundation:
www.tamirericefoundation.org
OLUWATOYIN “TOYIN” SALUA was a 19 year old girl
killed in Tallahassee, Florida after tweeting about being sexually assaulted. (June 2020) Passionate and independent, she was a Black Lives Matter protester considered to be an emerging leader in the movement. She had advocated on behalf of Tony McDade in particular. Salua was Nigerian-American and as a child was the youngest member of her church’s choir. She modeled and was studying cosmetology but intended to eventually study law.
Justice for Black Girls
Freedom Fighters Fund in Toyin’s honor:
www.justiceforblackgirls.com/oluwatoyin-freedom-fighters-fund
SAGE SMITH was a 19 year old trans girl
who went missing in Charlottesville, Virginia and whose whereabouts is still unknown. (Nov 2012) The person of interest in the case is Eric McFadden, whom Smith was meeting with the night of her disappearance. Smith was considered to be charismatic, fashionable, and energetic. She came out as a teenager, declaring herself “a girl now” and lived in a pink apartment with friends nicknamed “the dollhouse mansion.” She loved to dance and had dreams of becoming a professional hairdresser.
Find Sage Smith Facebook Community:
@findsagesmith
A $20,000 reward has been offered for information about Eric McFadden’s location & Dashad “Sage” Smith’s homicide. Please contact Sgt. Ron Stayments (434) 970-3939 or Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line (434) 977-4000.
BREONNA TAYLOR was a 26 year old woman
who was shot by police who entered her apartment with a no-knock warrant in Louisvile, Kentucky in the middle of the night. (March 2020) Taylor was considered bubbly, outgoing, stylish, hard working, and caring. She was an EMT with plans to go back to school for nursing. She had just bought a car and was building her credit so she could buy a house. She loved to sing & cook and was known as “Bre” by her close friends.
GoFund Me for Breonna Taylor’s family:
www.gofundme/f/9v4q2-justice-for-breonna-taylor
