“Someone’s Someone” by Kathryn Pannepacker – Transforming Tragedy Poster (12×18″)

Description

From the Artist

My panel is painted in honor and memory of Matthew ‘Zodak’ Williams, a young black man from DeKalb County, Georgia who on April 12th, 2021 died from a police officer’s gun & negligence. A combination of fear, surprise, panic, neglect, mental health, trauma reaction, bias, stigma, racism, lack of de-escalation training, etc., aided to his death… also, a tazer, a knive and a gun.

Still there’s been no justice, as with many cases that don’t receive mass media news-worthy attention. We are a de-sensitized society with broken systems (or ‘working just fine’ to erase those less fortunate, avoid transparency and ‘line’ pockets). A wrongful-death case has recently re-opened under the Federal Discrimination Law focused on mental health, and that officers weren’t adequately trained to respond. Say his name… Matthew ‘Zadok’ Williams.

Matthew ‘Zadok’ Williams was the youngest of 4 sisters. He was a beloved son. He was #someonessomeone. My design for this piece is a painterly/’textile’, free-form, cursive/loop, ‘run-on sentence’ style of painting, to visually articulate a simple message of longing, sorrow and connection. I painted this to look like string/yarn, as I am also a weaver. Follow Kathryn’s work @kpannepacker

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with each of us, each new day.

 

Learn more about Paige’s work of art, photos of the creative process and interviews.

About the Mural Project | ABSOLUTE EQUALITY

On June 19th, 1865, Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, which informed the people of Texas that all enslaved people were now free. He proclaimed: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves.”… but The struggle for freedom continued… so the story continues through history to this very moment. Philadelphia’s first Juneteenth Mural was unveiled in June of 2023 at The Germantown ArtHaus (designed & produced by Founder Keisha Whatley of Custom Arts Studio)

On May 17, 2021, The Germantown ArtHaus hosted the Germantown Artist Summit, an open gathering for local creatives to learn about the newly acquired Germantown ArtHaus, and learn about a Community Artist Mural project, “Transforming Tragedy: A Gateway to Hope.”  The concept was inspired by 2 songs (“Might Not Be OK,” by Kenneth Wallum and “Change Gonna Come,” by Sam Cooke).

Multiple artists agreed to participate in the unique creative challenge to create a piece of artwork (painted, 3-D relief, etc.) that honors the life of a victim of police brutality (or gun violence) AND points to a future where we need not create a mural like this ever again. Four artists stuck with the project until the end: Victoria Holmes (@vic_toriaholmes), Keshida Layone (@keshida.layone), Paige Lewis (@PinkTinyAngryMighty), and Kathryn Pannepacker (@kpannepacker).