The Orlando Museum of Art is honored to host a free community event to commemorate the lives lost during the Pulse tragedy. On Monday, June 12, at 5 pm, the museum will unveil Inspiration Orlando United, a mural created by Michael Pilato, Yuriy Karabash, and Chimene Hurst. The tribute will also feature remarks from community members honoring the lives lost and impacted by the horrific event.
The mural will be on view in the museum rotunda Tuesday, June 13 through Friday, June 16. The rotunda is open to the public during regular museum hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10 am to 4 pm; Saturday and Sunday 12 pm to 4 pm.
On the night of June 12, 2016, a festive atmosphere in the Pulse Nightclub was suddenly shattered by violent gunfire. 49 people died, and 53 people were injured. This mural is intended to engage and utilize public art to transform the events of that evening into a visual shared history with stories of treasured lives, inspirational responses, and selfless acts of leadership, love, and hope.
It is a visual narrative illuminating courageous acts of compassion that revealed a heart of love and kindness in the City Beautiful.
The Inspiration Orlando United mural is currently 44-feet-wide by 14-feet-high. Its core composition features the portraits of the 49 victims who lost their lives, the two survivors who passed within a year of the events, and a representative selection of survivors, inspirational first responders, and passionate caregivers.
Artist Michael Pilato, who will be a part of the evening’s presentation, is proud to present the mural to the community.
“It is an honor to be invited to join hands with the Orlando community and support the mural as it continues to breathe hope, justice, healing, and a passion for peace,” he said. “It is important that we remember the 49 loved ones lost and the lives forever changed as the world rose united in saying ‘love always wins.’”
The mural is a work in progress, with content added as new stories of inspiration are told. This project has been made possible through the support of Del Ambiente, an LGBTQ Puerto Rican not-for-profit, AARP, the Hispanic Federation, and Arte Mundial Gallery.
“It is truly an honor to present this mural to our community.” Coralie Claeysen-Gleyzon, Curator and Interim Head of Collections & Exhibitions, said. “It was important to us at the Orlando Museum of Art to honor the lives that were forever changed and offer a place of solace for our community. We hope this event provides an opportunity for heartfelt reflection and inspires unity, support, and advocacy.”
By Chadd Scott
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