Save the Boards facts for kids

Save the Boards is a special group in Minneapolis, USA. It's a nonprofit organization, which means it works for a good cause, not for money. Their main job is to collect and keep safe the amazing street art. This art appeared on wooden boards during the big protests in 2020.

Why the Boards?

"The entrance of a Minneapolis bookstore, Moon Palace Books, boarded up and muralized in response to the George Floyd protests of 2020. This mural was collected and preserved by Save the Boards."

In May 2020, a sad event happened in Minneapolis. This led to many protests across the country. People wanted fairness and change.

During these protests, many shops and buildings put up wooden boards. These boards covered their windows and doors to protect them. But these plain boards soon became giant canvases for artists. People used them to share their feelings and stories through art.

The art on the boards showed messages of hope and history. Some boards remembered George Floyd and others who had died. When the protests slowed down, much of this art was left outside. It was in danger of being damaged by weather or thrown away.

The Black Lives Matter movement has been active for years. But the protests in 2020 were huge. Millions of people joined in. Art has always been a part of this movement. People create posters, murals, and more. Save the Boards stepped in to collect this art from Minneapolis. They wanted to save it so it could help people heal, learn, and think.

How Save the Boards Started

Street art created in response to George Floyd protests in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This mural was collected and preserved by Save the Boards.

Save the Boards began thanks to Kenda Zellner-Smith. She was 24 years old and from Minneapolis. Kenda started the project to save the plywood boards. These boards showed powerful art after George Floyd's death.

Kenda had just finished college. She asked her roommate, Emma Shepherd, to help. Kenda didn't know much about saving art or organizing at first. But she worked hard to get community support. Together, they collected and saved over 800 plywood boards.

Kenda Zellner-Smith also teamed up with Leesa Kelly. Leesa founded another group called Memorialize the Movement. This group also wanted to save the plywood murals. They saw the murals as a form of "protest." With help from donations, the women rented trucks and storage units. They used these to collect and store the boards. Kenda Zellner-Smith said that saving the murals helped her personally. It was a way for her to deal with the difficult times.

What Save the Boards Does

Their Mission and Future

Kenda Zellner-Smith says Save the Boards does more than just collect wood. Their main goal is to create a "long-term multi-media" collection of the art. This way, the boards and murals will always remind people of the community's efforts. They want the art to help with healing and learning after difficult events.

To do this, they take photos of the boards. They are creating a "digital archive" with the University of St. Thomas. Students are also writing down important details. They record who made the art, where it was, and when.

Kenda Zellner-Smith plans to show the boards in many places. They want to display them at art shows and community events. They also plan workshops and talks. This will help people discuss the art's importance. It shows how art can tell stories and stand up against unfairness. The boards will keep telling the story of the 2020 events in Minneapolis.

Working with the Community

"A mural was painted on the boarded up Hook & Ladder Theater at 3010 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis. This mural was collected and preserved by Save the Boards."

Save the Boards has collected over 1,000 plywood murals. They also organize art events for the community. They host workshops that help people of color get involved in art preservation. They work with experts like the Midwest Conservation Center. These experts say most boards are in great shape. They will last for many years if cared for properly.

In 2021, Save the Boards worked with Memorialize the Movement. They also partnered with the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery (MAAHMG). They held a talk with the community. This was about a free outdoor art show planned for May 2021. The founders, Leesa Kelly and Kenda Zellner-Smith, explained why saving this art is important.

The May 2021 show was called "Justice for George: Messages from the People." It showed the plywood murals from 2020. New art was also painted live. Groups like the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council helped fund the event. Kenda Zellner-Smith said there was a huge amount of support from the community.

Artists and Their Murals

Street art generated in response to George Floyd protest in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This mural was collected and preserved by Save the Boards.

Save the Boards wants to raise awareness about police unfairness. They believe art is a powerful tool for tough conversations. Leesa Kelly, from Memorialize the Movement, said art helps people understand stories. But it does so in a way that makes them think, not just feel comfortable.

Save the Boards also thinks museums sometimes struggle to show all stories equally. So, they don't want to be like a traditional museum. They work hard to avoid unfairness in how they collect art. Since they collect street art, some artists might not be known. Save the Boards lets Black artists come forward. They can "retouch, reclaim, sell, keep, discard, showcase" their work whenever they want.

The Power of Street Art

Flowers outside of Cup Foods near where George Floyd was murdered. The mural painted in the background was created by local Minneapolis artists three days after George Floyd's murder.

About 2,700 pieces of street art appeared worldwide after George Floyd's death. This art was seen from Minneapolis to places like Syria. In Minneapolis, near where George Floyd died, three artists created a mural. Their names are Greta McLain, Xena Goldman, and Cadex Herrera. This mural shows a portrait of Floyd with a sunflower.

Cadex Herrera, an educator, felt he had to contribute. McLain said art helps the community heal. She said, "Art is therapy. Art can say things you cannot express with words. It brings the community together to reflect, to grieve, for strength and for support."

Street art, especially murals, has a long history in protests. It helps build communities and remember events. An artist in Syria, Aziz Asmar, also created art after George Floyd's death. He said, "Drawing is a world language everyone can understand. We are all brothers around the world, and we just want peace."

The Save the Boards project works to keep these plywood boards safe. They were created by artists like McLain and Asmar. The organization believes that collecting and sharing this art helps tell stories. It reminds the community of its strength. The saved boards don't belong to one person or business. Instead, they are a gift to the community for healing and unity.

See also

• 2020–2022 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial unrest
• George Floyd and Anti-Racist Street Art database
• George Floyd Square occupied protest