WE ARE NEX

Hello Friends of the World,

On February 8th the World lost a Great Light, and we have been grieving since.

I would like to paint a mural in honor of Nex Benedict (they/them). This mural is also in protest of Oklahona Senator Tom Woods calling Nex “filth”. He called me filth that day too. After a protest happens the family may determine what happens to the painting.

I proposed two options to the family, each option has a person that was bullied at the center of the mural. I hope to get to paint an image of Nex Benedict, but I am refusing to do so without the family’s permission since my community asked this of me and it is the right thing to do. Each option will have the subject of the painting surrounded by flowers. I am inviting people of the world to help us paint flowers on the mural, and you may sign your name on or next to your flower if you so choose. Feel free to send in photos of drawn flowers if you cannot be present in Stillwater, Oklahoma to help us paint flowers. Everyone, young and old, of all faiths, of all gender identities, are welcome to help paint flowers.

It looks like the act of painting will occur at a church. I don’t have all the details on the location where I am painting yet and inviting others to paint flowers.

I need to raise funds to complete the project. The goal is $14,000 but I can start painting when I bring in $3500. Anything that exceeds $14,000 I would like to donate to the family of Nex Benedict, should they accept it.

Thank you for sharing and thank you for donating! I appreciate all the help. Please consider adding a flower to the mural with us!

EDIT 12:07 AM 3/21/24: the mural will be 15x60 ft on repurposed metal provided by a local business.

EDIT 9:44 PM 3/28/24: This weekend I’m going to upload a detailed budget to the GoFundMe page. I confirmed people can donate anonymously. At $3500 I’ll reach out to the family a last time through the attorney and see how they feel. If they want the project shutdown I’ll send them them the $3500 and close the campaign. I really don’t want them to feel pressured either way. I’ve been dealing with a lot.  I’m still down for this. I want you all to understand that I’m asking for $14k for supplies, feeding volunteers, consultation and travel for a couple select artists that plan on helping. I am not paying myself. If I was paid for this professionally on the low end I could charge $40k, but with the materials and services being offered me to help out the total value of this painting may run closer to $50k or $60k. I’ll back my numbers up soon. Love you all. Be kind to others. https://gofund.me/8fd295c0 GoFundMe: We Are Nex

Edit/Update 3/31/24 ~10:45 PM

Hello! HAPPY TRANS VISIBILITY DAY.

I have updates on the material we will be painting on, as well as a budget breakdown.

First, we are no longer using the metal roof or metal for this mural. The metal roof was unusable for the project. Wood will be more affordable and easier to transport to the protest location and then the painting’s final destination (to be chosen by the family of Nex Benedict if they wish). We will use the same dimensions, 15x60 ft, or 900 square feet.

I want to explain the value of this painting if I were to be paid professionally for this. At $50 per square foot (which is typical for the industry and backed by my mural consultant) x 900 square ft, that would come to a total of $45,000. In addition to that, a local business is generously donating $5,395 total value in labor, carpentry, and materials (the wood and bracing). The total value of this painting is $50,395. We are essentially doing a $50k+ painting for FREE.

The consultation fee from a professional muralist was lowered from $4000 to $1000. I am lowering the goal of this GoFundMe from $14,000 to $9,050. Below is the breakdown of the budget:

LINE ITEM

COST

Professional Mural Consultation

$ 1,000.00

Paint

$ 3,000.00

Primer

$ 500.00

Wood Sealant

$ 150.00

General Supplies

$ 1,000.00

Travel for two artists (from Ohio)

$ 1,400.00

Food for Volunteers

$ 750.00

Incidental/Contingency/Emergency

$ 750.00

Uhaul

$ 500.00

TOTAL COST

$ 9,050.00

I do not want to start painting until we have raised about a third of that. Once we have raised $3,500 I will reach back out to the attorney representing the family of Nex Benedict to ask if we have their permission to continue with the project or if they want it shut down. This is a painful time for them and it is not lost on me that they are grieving the loss of their child. If the family wants the project shut down, then I will close the GoFundMe and send them the funds that have been raised.

I am asking for $9,050. The total value of this painting is over $50,000. I am not paying myself for this work.

We need donations to the fund. I hope this budget and math breakdown helps the public understand why we are asking for what seems like a lot of money to complete the project. Thank you in advance for your donations!

In addition to asking for funding, I hope everyone will consider either submitting a flower to be painted on the mural or painting flowers on the mural directly with us.