Friday, January 31, 2025
Image Gallery
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
Brightly colored murals graced the lobby of the Stanley Museum of Art for the second half of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration of Human Rights Week, January 20 – 26, 2025. Organized by the students at the African American Cultural Center as part of the MLK Service Week celebration, the event provided an opportunity for the UI campus and wider community to reflect on King’s life, values, and impact on their own lives.
 
Three local artists – Thomas Agran, Miriam Alarcón Avila, and Erykah Danner – provided support for participants. People of all ages added their mark to the two sixteen-foot murals. They shared messages of hope, strength, and beauty as beacons that can guide and uplift us, even in the darkest times.
 
Follow the artists on Instagram: 
Thomas Agran @agrantho
Miriam Alarcón Avila @miriamalarconavila
Erykah Danner @erykahwildflowers
 
Gallery
Two MLK murals, hung on the slatted wall in the Stanley's lobby.
A group of adults hunch over the mural, making their marks.
A close up photo of some of the mural's drawings.
A close up photo of some of the MLK mural drawings.
A close up photo of some of the MLK mural drawings.
A photo showing the sign describing the MLK Mural event.
A photo of one of the MLK murals created at the Stanley.
Participants of all ages enter the museum and head towards the mural making station.
A close up photo of some of the MLK mural drawings.
A group of people crowd around the mural.
A close up photo of some of the MLK mural drawings.
A close up photo of some of the drawings on the MLK murals.
Two children add drawings to the MLK murals.
Young children and university students alike work on the MLK murals.
A close up photo of some of the MLK mural drawings.
A photo of art supplies used on the murals--stencils, markers, crayons, and more.
A close up of one of the MLK Murals.
Two children add drawings to the MLK murals.
A group of mixed children and adults work on and watch others work on the murals.
A close up photo of some of the MLK mural drawings.