Kansas City is now home to six Black Lives Matter murals and they are huge.
If the murals were placed end to end, they would stretch for 2,000 feet.
Hundreds of volunteers gathered on Saturday to paint the six unique murals on streets throughout Kansas City. They were designed by six local artists.
The murals are located near the intersections of 18th and Vine streets, Northwest Briarcliff Parkway and North Mulberry Drive, Baltimore Avenue and West 10th Street, Troost Avenue and East 31st Street, Troost Avenue and East 63rd Street, Brookside Boulevard and West 63rd Street.
Volunteers will be back at it on Sunday putting finishing touches on the murals and applying a sealant to protect them from traffic and the elements.
Here are photos of the murals and the people who helped make them.
A Black Lives Matter mural now covers 18th Street near Vine in the middle of the historic Jazz District. Volunteers came together Saturday to paint six unique Black Lives Matter murals around Kansas City. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Volunteers painted one of six Black Lives Matter murals at Northwest Briarcliff Parkway and North Mulberry Drive Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Artists and volunteers work on a giant Black Lives Matter mural at 63rd Street and Troost Avenue on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. Six Black Lives Matter murals were painted at the same time across Kansas City. Shelly Yang syang@kcstar.com
Akina Love, 12, touched up the “B” in the Black Lives Matter mural being painted on 10th St. between Wyandotte and Baltimore Saturday. Chris Ochsner cochsner@kcstar.com
Artists and volunteers work on a giant Black Lives Matter mural at 31st St. and Troost Ave. Saturday, Sep. 5, 2020. Six unique Black Lives Matter murals were painted at the same time across Kansas City.. Shelly Yang syang@kcstar.com
Artists and volunteers work on a giant Black Lives Matter mural at 63rd St. and Troost Ave. Saturday, Sep. 5, 2020. Six unique Black Lives Matter murals were painted at the same time across the Kansas City. Shelly Yang The Kansas City Star
Volunteer Lacey Nicole Knight of Kansas City paints a “T” in the Black Lives Matter mural at the 18th and Vine Jazz District Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. It is one of six being painted around Kansas City. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
A volunteer helped paint the names of Black people who have been shot by police or others Saturday in one of the giant letters that make up the Black Lives Matter mural painted on Brookside Blvd. near 63rd St. Chris Ochsner cochsner@kcstar.com
Greer Cooper-Dosrey, left, helped outline the letters for the message “I can’t breathe” inside the giant “K” that is part of the Black Lives Matter mural painted Saturday on Brookside Blvd. near 63rd St. Chris Ochsner cochsner@kcstar.com
Volunteers paint the Black Lives Matter mural at the 18th and Vine Jazz District Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. It is one of six being painted around Kansas City. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Artists and volunteers work on a giant Black Lives Matter mural at 63rd St. and Troost Ave. Saturday, Sep. 5, 2020. Six unique Black Lives Matter murals were painted at the same time across the Kansas City. Shelly Yang syang@kcstar.com
Volunteers paint the Black Lives Matter mural at the 18th and Vine Jazz District Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. It is one of six being painted around Kansas City. Jill Toyoshiba jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com
Bella Barnes worked with bright green paint to start filling in a giant “B” on the Black Lives Matter mural being painted on Brookside Blvd. Saturday near 63rd St. Chris Ochsner cochsner@kcstar.com
A small rendering of the letter “C” in the Black Lives Matter mural being painted on 63rd St. near Brookside Blvd. was taped on the pavement to help the painters understand the design. cochsner@kcstar.com
Volunteers worked to fill in giant outlined letters for the Black Lives Matter mural being painted on 10th St. Saturday between Wyandotte and Baltimore. Chris Ochsner cochsner@kcstar.com
Liz Higgins, Lenexa, rolled out some bright red paint to make a giant “A” that is part of the Black Lives Matter mural painted on Brookside Blvd. Saturday near 63rd St.
Paint brushes and rollers were at the ready for volunteers to use to help paint the Black Lives Matter Mural Saturday on Brookside Blvd. near 63rd St. Chris Ochsner cochsner@kcstar.com
Two volunteers held hands after they took a break from painting to dance with each other at the Black Lives Matter mural being painted on 10th St. Saturday between Wyandotte and Baltimore. Chris Ochsner cochsner@kcstar.com
A young observer watched while volunteers worked to fill in giant outlined letters for the Black Lives Matter mural being painted on 10th St. Saturday between Wyandotte and Baltimore. Chris Ochsner cochsner@kcstar.com
This story was originally published September 6, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
Visuals Editor Chris Ochsner leads The Star’s talented staff of photojournalists and video producers. He’s had his hand in directing visuals coverage since 2002. Ochsner led the visuals team in its coverage of four Super Bowls and two World Series.
