Protests, fueled by outrage at the brutal murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis a few weeks ago, spread throughout the country, and while most were peaceful, some used the moment to loot luxury stores like the ones in downtown Soho. Thankfully looting lasted only a short time, but the stores in Soho quickly boarded up their windows with plywood to prevent further damage. It wasn’t long before artists began using the wooden blockades as canvasses to express the injustices of our country and call for change.
We woke up early last Sunday morning to take a walk through the neighborhood before Phase two of our city’s reopening. It is reminiscent of the old Soho, when it was the epicenter of cutting edge art — not just from famous artists like Andy Warhol, Basquiat, and Keith Haring, but not-so-famous artists as well. First, graffiti and illustrated portraits of those who have been killed began emerging, with quotes from black writers like Angela Davis and James Baldwin. Now, murals about peace, unity, anti-racism, anti-police brutality, and, most importantly, love are painted throughout the streets. Fortunately there are talks of preserving the art as a collection when New York City does completely reopen, with proceeds benefiting the artists. Even though the plywood tapestry will likely come down soon in Soho, this piece of history — through its undeniably powerful art — will live on.
