Emmett Till slept here

For Black History Month, you know what would be really cool? I’d love to see more cities preserving significant sites related to the Movement for Black Lives. Maybe city leaders across the country could follow Chicago’s recent example.

Chicago’s city council has granted landmark status to the apartment building where Emmett Till once lived, up until he was lynched in Mississippi in 1955. Breonna Taylor’s life deserves to be remembered too. The tragedy of Emmett’s murder launched the 1960s civil rights era; Black Lives Matter activists continue to demand justice for people like Breonna. You might remember a Kentucky grand jury refused to bring murder charges against the Louisville police officers who shot her as she slept.

Here’s the thing that really gets me: that grand jury announced its decision exactly 65 years after Emmett Till’s murderers were acquitted in Mississippi.

Breonna’s memorial has since been moved to the Roots 101 African American Museum in downtown Louisville. If you’re in a position to support them, please consider donating to help the museum preserve Breonna’s memorial. If Mississippi can memorialize 51 sites connected to Emmett’s death, and Chicago can commit to protecting one building from being torn down, it should be comparatively easy to establish one permanent museum exhibit in Kentucky.

"... Mother" returns next week

It’s like Homecoming Week up in here: “Like Mother” opens its doors in North Seattle next Wednesday, this time at the North Seattle College art gallery.

Notice there are two opportunities for you to see our work that day! If your schedule allows, you can join us that afternoon. If not, then join us in the early evening and wait out rush hour looking at art instead of sitting in traffic. I promise, it’s far more pleasant to breathe in the sweet smell of beeswax from Deborah Kapoor’s encaustic art installation.

Deborah Kapoor, “My Body, My Home”

Maybe you have to head home right away, though; I understand. Rest up on Friday, then join me Saturday evening in Shoreline for the opening of “Living the Dream.”

Lisa Myers Bulmash, “Relatively Progressive” (detail)

Photo of Edwin T. Pratt. Credit: Black Heritage Society of WA state

Hope to see you soon — maybe at both events!

"Living the Dream" in Shoreline, Washington

As slippery as it is, the American Dream of owning a home — and by extension, the feeling of belonging here — has shaped much of my identity. So when I found out about the city of Shoreline’s upcoming art exhibit, it almost felt necessary to submit some of my work.

“Relatively Progressive,” 2019. ©Lisa Myers Bulmash.

I’ve contributed this collage and two other pieces to the “Living the Dream, Dreaming the Life” exhibit. These, and works by 15 other artists, are inspired by civil rights martyr Edwin T. Pratt, who led the Seattle Urban League. He and his family also integrated an all-white neighborhood in what’s now Shoreline. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Pratt’s assassination at his front door.

Credit: Edwin T. Pratt Archive, Black Heritage Society of Washington State; David Francis

Pratt’s family photos are now held by the Black Heritage Society of Washington state. Their partnership with 4Culture allowed us artists to experiment with these images, just like I usually do with my own family archive. So I’m really looking forward to seeing what my friends Vincent Keele, Christina Reed, Naoko Morisawa and the other artists have done. The opening reception is Saturday, January 26th at Shoreline City Hall… hope to see you there!