While shop owners across the country continue to board up their stores in fear of looters taking advantage of the widespread protests in honor of George Floyd, Venice Beach locals are taking a unique approach to protecting their businesses.
World famous street artist, Jules Muck, 42, better known as Muck Rock, is teaming up with business owners in the LA community to create murals and graffiti of police brutality victims on boarded up shops.
‘Of course we have to protect ourselves, but I don’t want us to come off like we are just boarding up and not being a part of it,’ Muck tells DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. ‘I think that’s why everybody has been really asking for the art to be representative of what’s going on.’
As concerned locals boarded up their pricey boutiques along the famous mile long road known as Abbot Kinney, Muck, a longtime resident of Venice Beach, continues to create murals George Floyd and other victims of police brutality and racism including Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Kendra James, Tony McDade and Tamir Rice.
World famous street artist, Jules Muck, 42, better known as Muck Rock, is teaming up with business owners in the LA community to create murals and graffiti of police brutality victims on boarded up shops, including this mural of George Floyd
Muck has created murals of George Floyd and other victims of police brutality and racism including Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Kendra James, Tony McDade and Tamir Rice. Pictured is Breonna Taylor
Michael Brown: Muck created this mural of Michael Brown, 18, who was killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014
Thousands of protesters wearing black and yellow gather on a four mile stretch of beach from Venice Pier to Santa Monica Pier to support Black Lives Matter on Friday
Muck is seen creating her George Floyd mural in the midst of nationwide protests in honor of his unjust death at the hands of cops in Minnesota
Trayvon Martin: The 17-year-old from Miami Gardens, Florida, was fatally shot by neighborhood watch patrolman George Zimmerman in 2012
Tamir Rice was just 12-years-old when he was fatally shot by police in Cleveland, Ohio in 2014 while carrying a toy gun.
‘The victims right now are the ones we are suppose to be talking about, and especially of course George Floyd because this is a movement that’s happening because of his death and it’s about getting justice,’ Muck says.
‘I want to do as many victims as possible. Sadly, there are so many I could probably keep going for another ten years.’
One haunting image depicts George Floyd’s face outlined in blue spray-paint with the words I Can’t Breathe Mama Mama.
Another features Breonna Taylor on a boarded up clothing store on Abbot Kinney.Today would have been Breonna Taylor’s 27th birthday.
The emergency medical technician was killed by police on March 13 in Louisville when officers burst into her home unannounced while she was sleeping during a drug investigation.
On Friday thousands of protesters wearing black and yellow gathered on a four mile stretch of beach from Venice Pier to Santa Monica Pier to support Black Lives Matter.
Breonna Taylor: Today, Friday June 5th, would have been Breonna Taylor’s 27th birthday. She was killed in her home by officers who entered during a raid on the wrong house. Muck is seen creating her mural
This comes as business owners across the country continue to board up their stores in fear of looters taking advantage of the widespread protests in honor of George Floyd. Muck has turned the boards into arts
Demonstrators lined up on Venice Beach in California with signs and masks as they protested police brutality in America
Peaceful protestors brought signs that read: ‘We Matter!’, ‘No Justice, No Peace’ and ‘Say His Name!’
Tony McDade (left) is among those black men who have been killed by police. McDade was shot dead last week in Tallahassee, Florida
A boarded up market in Los Angeles now holds the face of George Floyd, with his quote: ‘Please, na, I didn’t do nothing wrong’
‘The victims right now are the ones we are suppose to be talking about, and especially of course George Floyd because this is a movement that’s happening because of his death and it’s about getting justice,’ Muck says
Military men are seen walking past George Floyd’s memorial in Vencie Beach as they patrol during protests
Taylor’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit, while the three officers involved remain free of any criminal charges.
‘A lot of people say they feel grateful for being heard and Venice is of course happy that we are being represented correctly,’ Muck tells DailyMail.com.
‘I think when you just see slabs of wood on storefronts, you feel like people are checked out from the issue and don’t want to be a part of it. And that’s not the case here.’
Muck says she chose a hair salon for Shelly Frey’s mural.
‘Trim hair salon was the best spot for Shelly Fray because she’s got all this glamorous hair and the brows,’ Muck explained.
Californians came out to Venice Beach with signs, masks and even dogs who participated in the nationwide protests
Protestors are seen marching on Venice Beach in California with drums and signs that read ‘Black Lives Matter’
Frey a mother of two was shot and killed by an off-duty security guard after he suspected her of shoplifting at a Houston Wal-Mart store in 2013.
Some of Muck’s most notable tributes include a touching depiction of the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, a portrait of David Bowie and her of course her Venice Beach staple, a green and white mural titled Freedumb featuring beloved rockers Jim Morrison, Kurt Kobain, Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols, Janis Joplin and Marilyn Monroe.
Originally from Stoke-on-Trent, England, Muck began writing graffiti as a teen and worked under her mentor, graffiti legend Lady Pink in NYC before settling in Venice Beach in 2008.