NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — This week, Nashville artist Charles Key finished a mural featuring the faces of men and women killed by police.
The mural at the corner of Lafayette Street and Charles E. Davis Boulevard includes portraits of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jocques Clemmons and Daniel Hambrick.
"I drew the mural and included Daniel Hambrick and Jocques Clemmons to let Nashville know of our own in-house injustice," said Charles Key.
The artist has several murals in South Nashville, including at Napier Elementary and the community center. His opinion is the area is usually not recognized for its art scene.
"For some reason, this area was neglected for people coming to look at murals or any type of artwork," said Key.
Key's knows his newest mural will get attention, but his hope is it also sparks conversation.
"As an artist, I just kind of set the table and I want the viewer to see the beauty and let the vision do something to you. This is my purpose," he said.
The artist also said it was important to him to keep the memory alive of the people killed by police, especially Jocques Clemmons and Daniel Hambrick of Nashville.
"Unless you're part of the family, you kind of fade away the memory. Doing this [mural] is my way of giving the family some support," he said.
The mothers of both Clemmons and Hambrick have visited the mural.
What a beautiful way to honor Jocques Clemmons and Daniel Hambrick, this is located on Lafayette/Murfreesboro Rd CeeBee store pic.twitter.com/9gyOdSUots
— Sheila Lee (@Phatz1966) June 15, 2020
Key said the deaths of Floyd, Taylor, Clemons and Hambrick are firing Nashvillians up and that can lead to change.
"A lot of the youth don't have the old southern values they used to, and I think that part right there will bring a better change than any generation did before. Right now, [Nashville] has people from multiple cultures, backgrounds, political levels. People are coming together when they see humanly something is wrong. This will bring a change. This is the beginning and that's why it is uncomfortable, but uncomfortable means you're growing, and this is growth, and this is what growth looks like," he said.
