Louis Delsarte, a renowned artist who has painted critically acclaimed murals since 1967, has created his seminal work with a 125-foot mural that depicts the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On Sunday, Jan. 17, Delsarte will be joined by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and the King family at the unveling of the mural, which will be installed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Natatorium.
Delsarte, who also serves as a professor at Morehouse College, in an exclusive interview with rolling out, discussed the importance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Mural. –amir shaw
How did you get involved with this project?
This was a national competition and I discovered that I would be involved one year ago.
I just wanted to tell the story of Dr. King’s life. A lot of artists from the community came out and volunteered on this project, so I owe a lot to them. This mural is for the community.
What did do you to prepare yourself to tell Dr. King’s story through art?
I’m very familiar with Dr. King’s life and the Civil Rights Movement. I have taught at Morehouse College for seven years and he was probably the [school’s] most famous graduate. I’m paying homage to a former Morehouse student. He grew up on Auburn Avenue and I’m constantly reminded of his legacy. This mural has become an allegory of his life. It starts from early childhood and ends with his death at the Lorraine Motel. I have incorporated several civil rights leaders who were a part of the movement, images of the police resistance movement, and his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. The mural moves like a filmstrip.
How did Dr. King inspire the historic election of President Barack Obama?
The Civil Rights Movement influenced a lot of movements. Dr. King had a major influence on President Obama’s life. Dr. King fought for equal justice, he broke the color line, and he’s probably the most famous black American in the world. By challenging injustice, he’s allowed President Obama to take center stage.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Mural will be unveiled on Sunday, Jan. 17 at
2:00 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Natatorium.
