Ahead of Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, local artist Fabian Williams decided to create "the #Kaeperbowl" in support of activist Colin Kaepernick. During the event, the artist partnered with local artists to create eight Kaep murals across the city.
Williams told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution it all started last week when he noticed his prized painting was being destroyed. The mural depicted Kaepernick beside Muhammad Ali in a Black Panther costume; however, the building it was on was being demolished.
“I figured at some point they would tear the building down, but it has been sitting up this whole time,” Williams said. “The fact that the Super Bowl happens here and the weekend when the festivities are gearing up, the building gets demolished is very odd.”
Williams added he felt the city was sending a message with the demolition.
“Symbols matter man," the artist said. "You destroyed the whole building it was on? If I were an interpreter of performance art, what message would you take from that?”
The destruction of the work led Williams to make plans for replacing it. He asked small businesses near the site of the Super Bowl game to donate wall space to his endeavor. Eight businesses agreed; the artist then reached out to his network, asking other artist friends and activists to spend their Sunday putting up new murals.
On Monday, Williams updated the results on Instagram with a message that began, "Heroes really out here not wearing capes!"
After thanking everyone who was involved in the artistic protest in his post, Williams announced there is still more to come.
"We still have murals that are in process and [honestly] we have more walls," Williams wrote. "In danger of leaving out anyone, if you could give us a little time to gather our thoughts and our bodies as this day was both energizing, exhausting and beautiful. #Atlanta really stepped up. I'm proud of my city."
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