During the riots that occurred this past summer after the death of George Flyod by the police, many were the Apple Stores in the United States that they were armored with wood panels to prevent the passage of the demonstrations from turning Apple stores into objects of looting.
Many were the artists who took advantage of the installation of these panels to create works dedicated to this person. Although most of them were destroyed, the one in the Apple Store at Pioneer Place in Portland was preserved thanks to Apple. Last December, the company announced that it would keep this mural without offering more information about it.
A month later we already know who will be the recipient of this panel as reported by the guys from 9to5Mac. Has been the non-profit organization Don't Shoot PDX hoping to preserve the spirit of the protests for the social and racial justification of 2020.
The artist emma berger, painted George Floyd's portrait along with the words I Can't Breathe. Overnight, the rest of the panels were filled with other faces, transforming into a collage that reflected the spirit of the protests.
Don't Shoot PDW has announced through its website that you have accepted the responsibility of keeping the panels, although at the moment it has not confirmed if this panel will be on public display in the future.
An Apple spokesperson has stated regarding this donation:
Artists from the Portland community reimagined the blank canvas that surrounds our Pioneer Place Apple Store and created a monumental piece of art honoring the ongoing fight for justice and the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.
Apple supports artists and all those who fight for social and racial justice. We are honored to have hosted the murals and excited to entrust the artwork to Don't Shoot PDW in support of their advocacy for social change.
