CHAMPAIGN – As you walk into Franklin STEAM Academy’s cafeteria a colorful mural greets you and brightens the space.
The mural is representative of various cultures, identities and sexual orientations, an immediate intention by the artist, Marcus Flinn.
To Flinn, this mural is incredibly important for young people to see in their schools.
“Kids don’t necessarily have a voice at that young of age, but to have pieces of art that represent them and they could see themselves within it kind of shows that ‘Oh, this is a space a safe space, you could be yourself.’”
The mural was finished in time for the 2021 school year but Flinn’s journey to the project began during the summer of unrest, 2020.
Flinn attended all of the marches organized in Champaign-Urbana that followed the police murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless others.
One of his professors at Parkland Community College was aware of his interest in activism and connected him with Amanda Danowitz who wanted to collaborate on a citywide Black Lives Matter mural to pitch to the city.
The pitch was a street mural that would read: ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER. ‘All’ would be painted to reflect the Trans flag, ‘Black’ to reflect the Pan African flag, the I in ‘Lives’ would represent the University of Illinois’ block I and finally ‘Matter’ would be painted in the colors of the updated Pride flag.
The mural was pitched to the Champaign City Council in the fall but ultimately was not granted funding.
In an interview about the BLM mural Flinn said, “regardless of if this gets approved or not, we will continue to have conversations about this, we will continue to be uncomfortable in this space.”
Less than a year later, Danowitz reapproached Flinn with a new project.
Danowitz had recently been hired at Franklin STEAM Academy as the art teacher and had been commissioned to create a mural outside of the cafeteria.
Flinn took the lead in designing the wall with the idea of creating an inclusive safe space that he never had.
The characters in the mural are heavily influenced by the children’s show Steven Universe. The show has been praised for its LGBTQ+ visibility, touching on topics of identity and sexual orientation.
“Steven Universe implemented [sexual orientation] in such a way that it was light hearted, it was inclusive, and it was just, it was wholesome,” Flinn said. “Kids were able to see themselves in the characters. And also not just kids, but teenagers and adults watch this… A lot of the situations in that show reminded me of how I was navigating my sexuality and how it felt to be queer, and a middle school or an elementary school trying to get get through life.”
There is a blue male character in the mural that Flinn designed as a reflection of himself.
“Oftentimes, boys are taught not to be emotional,” Flinn said “Boys are taught not to lean into their vulnerability. They’re taught to have this front and to be strong and to suppress.”
The character’s eyes are closed, painted in various shades of blue centered around the mind to represent vulnerability and sensitivity.
This project was not only important to Flinn as an adult but for his childhood self who needed to see this kind of art in his hometown.
“I probably wouldn’t have been bullied as much, if at all and that completely blows my mind,” Flinn said. “When I was in middle school, I was heavily tormented and harassed and I had to walk different routes home. I had to take different buses home. There was so much trauma that came from bullying.”
Flinn said his eyes watered at seeing the final product. He was filled with joy for the children who “really just kind of exist and don’t feel like they have to water themselves down.”
The final step of the project is a plaque to commemorate the work done by Flinn and the students.
“I’ve never allowed myself an opportunity to express these topics, in my personal art, like ever,” Flinn said. “I’ve just recently found my voice through Black Lives Matter and surrounding myself with people who are activists and aren’t afraid to say no people, who aren’t afraid to set boundaries, and it’s inspired me to talk about my own stuff.”
