Portland Street Art Alliance Expands the Central Eastside Mural District with New Mural Dedicated to the History of the Industrial District
CENTRAL EASTSIDE , PORTLAND
Photo: Sara Sjol, PSAA
Portland Street Art Alliance (PSAA) worked with three lead artists (Devin Finley, Jeremy Nichols, and Dan Lee) and nearly 20 regional graffiti artists to paint a massive 12,000 square foot mural dedicated to the nautical history of the Central Eastside Industrial District of Portland. This project is part of the non-profit group's efforts to seed a world-class mural district in the Central Eastside. This mural can be found at 211 SE Yamhill St. Portland, OR 97214.
This colossal new mural was a partnership between PSAA and the Central Eastside Industrial Council (CEIC), the neighborhood business association, and with significant grants from Prosper Portland and the Oregon Arts Commission. CEIC secured a grant from Prosper Portland and contracted with PSAA for assistance managing and implementing this mural project. CEIC is also donating all of their staff time to support this district beautification and improvement project
A TEAM EFFORT
Muralists Jeremy Nichols, Dan Lee, and Devin Finley in front of a small section of the new mural. Photo: Tim Trautmann.
In May and June of 2021, three local artists, Jeremy Nichols, Devin Finley, and Dan Lee, had the opportunity to showcase their skills, painting a mural honoring this unique Portland neighborhood. Working closely with a team of professors from Portland State University, including Dr. Carl Abbott, famed Portland historian and Dr. Hunter Shobe, cultural geographer and member of Portland Street Art Alliance’s Board of Directors, PSAA gathered historical research to help inform the content of this mural.
Muralist Devin Finley works to paint a historic dockside view of the Central Eastside. Photo: Tim Trautmann.
Photo: Sara Sjol, PSAA
HISTORY LESSONS
The mural design honors the history of the Central Eastside Industrial District and this stretch of the Willamette River. Specifically, the industrial and maritime history as a hub for shipping and commerce in the late 1800s. Included will be historic views of the Willamette River during the early industrial boom, spawning Chinook and Coho Salmon, flowing wapato, fishing nets, wooden ship hulls, buoys, anchors, and fishing piers. Carl Abbott explains that, “Willamette River shipping grew Portland from a straggling settlement to a major city. The docks, mills, and warehouses of the eastside were central to its industry and commerce in the 19th and early 20th century.”
STYLE WRITERS
Completed project with work from various graffiti artists adorning the bottom. Sara Sjol, PSAA
Keeping true to their mission of supporting and advocating for writers and graffiti-style art, PSAA has also arranged almost 20 regional artists (based in Portland, Seattle, and Idaho) to paint a production along the bottom 10ft of the two main mural walls, along with the third loading dock side of the building. In this line up included: JOKER, MAWK, KANGO, GIVER, ABNR, DELAY, NOTES, QUE, DEPTHS, UTER, JAHDI, RITE, NIMBY, RASKO, OTHER, CEAD, NERD, FIBER, QUETZAL and ISREK.
These artists were selected from an open call to artists, and are among the best and most highly-respected writers in the Pacific Northwest. PSAA’s unique approach involves extensive community outreach and providing opportunities to underrepresented and diverse street artists. PSAA provides artists with the guidance, support, and supplies they need to create large-scale murals that engage with the larger community. These types of opportunities provide artists avenues to expand their skill sets, build their networks, and work portfolios.
A NEW PARTNERSHIP
Paint sprayer training by The Painter Guys for Ground Score workers.
With this project, PSAA also launched a new ongoing partnership with Ground Score Association, a peer-led initiative of the non-profit Trash for Peace. This special work program helps folks with housing insecurities gain access to paid work and job training opportunities. Laborers are assisting PSAA with wall preparation and base coat painting, and getting paid a living wage for their work.
The building that the mural is being painted on was originally owned by Herbert M. Clark Jr., and was built in 1953. It was a family-business called Holman Transfer Company; a warehouse and trucking facility. It was then leased to Nor-Air for decades until around 2000 when that company was acquired by the current tenant, Airefco, a wholesale distributor of heating, air conditioning and ventilation products.
“ The CEIC is proud to call PSAA a partner in the creation of the Central Eastside Mural District. A longtime center for urban manufacturing, Central Eastside businesses value the making, creativity and innovation that’s at the heart of this initiative. This new mural reflects the scope of our ambitions to bring colorful walls and artistic expression to the Central Eastside. ”
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