VERNONIA MURAL FESTIVAL

VERNONIA, OREGON

October, 2021 (Portland, OR) – Portland Street Art Alliance is pleased to announce the completion of eight new murals in downtown Vernonia. Working alongside PSAA, and local resident Rachael Organ, the Columbia Economic Team secured a grant from Travel Oregon to help beautify downtown, selecting several walls around town to be painted with murals.

Artists Oliver Casillas and Francisco Morales

This fall, six Pacific Northwest based artists came together to paint at various sites through downtown Vernonia. Artists Jeremy Nichols (@plasticbirdie), Francisco Morales (@laylowcreative), Maddo Hues (@yomaddo), Hayden Senter (@chairboy), Oliver Casillas (@casillas_oliver) and Dan Lee (@bigtroublehandpainted) weaved together stories of Vernonia’s past and present, all while creating art to help expand its future. The area features a variety of outdoor activities including camping, biking the lush Banks-Vernonia trail and fishing on Lake Vernonia. Vernonia’s outdoor beauty combined with its restaurants, shops and murals make Vernonia the perfect locale for a taste of rural Oregon with an urban flair.

Panels from Artist Maddo Hues mural at R&S Market.

With materials ranging from latex to spray paint, artists worked in a variety of styles to create a vibrant mosaic of new public art in Vernonia. While concepting the mural artists worked closely with community members and building owners to bring the best of Vernonia to the walls of its downtown.

Themes include both historic and modern-day commerce – with highlights honoring Vernonia’s rich logging history and references to the historic Vernonia Oregon Lumber company and railroad, the region’s flora and fauna, local outdoor recreation, and Vernonia’s cinematic history.

Since Vernonia is over an hour's drive from Portland down winding roads in the mountains, artists stayed at the Caden Inn, located in downtown Vernonia. This unique experience allowed artists time to enjoy the charming town, eat at its restaurants, and to interact with residents.

I felt like I was a part of Vernonia for that week or two. Seeing the same kids run around the block, or the same few people who couldn’t sleep at night coming up and talking when I was wrapping up painting for the day. I feel lucky being able to paint in a place where public art doesn’t happen that much or at all.”
- Hayden Senter

“Painting in Vernonia was truly an incredible experience. I did not know a lot about this area beforehand. Through my time there, I fell in love with this town. It’s amazing to learn so much about a town and the locals in just a few days. The local community was welcoming, supportive, and very excited to see all of us brighten up the town. Being able to interact with the locals, I was able to learn about their history, the history of the town, and the local culture.”
- Jeremy Nichols

INAUGURAL VERNONIA MURAL FESTIVAL

On September 4, as artists were wrapping up, Portland Street Art Alliance, local non-profit Hands on Art, and community members across town, held an Inaugural Mural Festival to unveil its new gallery of public art.

Attendees chatted with artists, took photos, and even created a bit of art themselves with chalk provided by Hands on Art. Community members from Hands on Art also hosted a mural festival information booth, handing out maps so people could find the new artwork.

People came by foot, car and bike to see the artists in action and to take in a beautiful rural Oregon day. Both locals and tourists alike enjoyed talking with the artists, learning more about the process and the inspiration behind the art and, of course, taking photos.

The new public piano, painted by artist Oliver Casillas was put to good use at the festival as locals serenaded passersby with piano and mandolin music. PSAA directors Tomás Valladares, Tiffany Conklin, and Galen Malcom were at the festival talking to locals and visitors, taking impromptu groups of people on mural tours throughout the day.

After the festival wrapped a seventh mural featuring scenes from the classic 1961 film, Ring of Fire, was completed by artist Dan Lee on the side of the old Joy movie theater.

COMPLETED VERNONIA MURALS

Mariolino's Pizza - Artist Francisco Morales, Assisted by Oliver Casillas

For the festival, artist Francisco Morales created a vibrant mural with call-outs to Vernonia's logging traditions both past and present. The mural also features visual cues to Vernonia's classic car (and motorcycle) meetups that begin in Vernonia and zip through mountains of the Coast Range. White trilliums that dot the bottom are native to Vernonia’s forest in the spring.

Extra, Extra!

This location had extra space on its walls, and visiting artist Oliver Casillas (Talent, Oregon / Guadalajara, Mexico) was able to create an impromptu mural during his stay. Casillas was also able to paint another impromptu project, thanks to a local resident donating an old piano that was painted with leftover supplies. It now resides in one of Vernonia public plaza’s for all residents to use and enjoy.

Black Iron Grill + Island Grill - Artist Jeremy Nichols

During his stay, Jeremy Nichols completed two murals in Vernonia. The first mural, located on the back of the Black Iron Grill, focused on the local bird species found in the area. The great white egret can often be spotted at Vernonia Lake, while the red-winged blackbird is common at sites across the area. The stumps lining the base of the mural are a nod to local loggers.

Nichols’ second mural is located in a community park/alleyway next to Island’s Grill. Featuring a rooster, strawberries and local greens, this mural was a homage to area farmers and Vernonia’s farmers market.

Rock Creek Professional Building - Artist Hayden Senter

Artist Hayden Senter enjoys painting subtle scenes derived from his surroundings. His murals tend to contain antique and discarded objects that are often overlooked.

Senter’s double mural gives the viewer the impression of looking from one window and seeing through it to the mural on the other side.

On the front panel, entangled in wildflowers, sits an old bicycle parked next to a wooden window pane. On the right side of the window rests a glimmer of Vernonia’s past - a rusted steam donkey. A steam donkey, or donkey engine, was a steam-powered winch once widely used in logging. Abandoned and rusty old steam donkeys can still be found in the mountains surrounding Vernonia.

“ I hope my mural functions as a place for people to stop and look. Maybe take them somewhere else for a moment. I’m looking forward to the way people interact with these elements in my mural - that they are relatable enough to recognize as familiar - but also used differently enough to allow for a different perspective.”
- Hayden Senter

R & S Market - Artist Maddo Hues

Gracing the entire front of the R&S Market, this multi-panel mural by Portland-based artist (and ex-train hopper) Maddo Hues tells the story of Vernonia. The tall dividing panels feature representations of natural commodities of the area with lumber, fish and flora.

The first wide panel depicts a fisherman on the Nehalem River that runs through town. The second features bike riders on the Banks-Vernonia Trail. The last large panel on the right is an homage to the Banks-Vernonia railroad which is now the site of the Rails-to-Trails project that created the Banks-Vernonia Trail.

“I decided to paint a handful of different scenes and objects that represent both the history and present day activities that make Vernonia such a nice place to be. I got to meet many of the locals since I was painting at the only grocery store in town. I could hardly go 15 minutes without receiving a compliment from someone. It is very fulfilling to have had the opportunity to use my skills to create something that the community of Vernonia enjoys so much.”
– Maddo Hues

Gretchen’s Saddlery & Joy Theater - Artist Dan Lee

Artist Dan Lee took his inspiration from Vernonia’s cinematic history. His mural is a conglomeration of scenes from the 1961 movie Ring of Fire. Vernonia is where much of the town and the burning mill scenes were filmed, including the iconic steam engine crash from atop a local trestle. Lee also recreated the type from the original movie poster to tie the mural together.

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In 1961, Georgia-Pacific Corporation had just phased out its fleet of steam locomotives in its closed down Toledo, Oregon logging operations. Some locomotives went to local community parks for display, but one was sacrificed for the Ring of Fire shoot.

I feel very fortunate to have been allowed this opportunity to paint on this beautiful historical landmark and hopefully to have made something that resonates with residents in the community. It’s hard to put into words how palliative the experience was, painting in that idyllic setting during early fall, and the kind words of encouragement from those passing by. I can only hope that the rest of the projects I’m lucky enough to be a part of are as special. Thanks to all the folks at Portland Street Art Alliance, Travel Oregon and Miller Paint for the opportunity and support, and thank you Vernonia for having me! - DAN LEE

All Eyes on Vernonia

While Vernonia has struggled economically and was hit hard by the pandemic, there are creative bright spots that make it unique. Starting with 1961’s Ring of Fire, Vernonia has enjoyed a rich cinematic history including movies such as Twilight and Vernonia’s most recent production, Harpo Film’s The Waterman. A key feature that brought the production crew to Vernonia was another creative bright spot in town, the ‘Old Mill’ or locally known as the “Chip Shed”.

The Vernonia mill, located at Vernonia Lake, was one of the last remnants from the timber mill that was set aflame in Ring of Fire. It sat empty and mostly unused for years, aside from a bit of graffiti by local kids.

Six years ago, with the owner’s permission, PSAA began coordinating with the mill owner and visiting artists to give the Old Mill in Vernonia a second life. Since the Old Mill project’s inception, Vernonia has become an unexpected epicenter for street art, far beyond the confines of the city. This touchstone started a partnership that directly led to the creation of this mural festival.

Murals help communities create a long-lasting shared experience, as well as providing social and commercial value. By creating compelling spaces for people to visit, spend time at, and pose for photos on social media, these permanent pieces of public art will assist Vernonia with its economic recovery by helping bring in more tourism dollars – all while fostering better understanding to help overcome the rural-urban divide.

With local Vernonia support, the Portland Street Art Alliance has applied for an Oregon Community Foundation Grant in the hopes to expand the festival in 2022. Special thanks to the City of Vernonia for being so welcoming, Rachael Organ for all her hard work securing walls and helping with festival planning logistics, Paul Vogel and Wela Negelspach at the Columbia Economic Team for their administrative support, Josette Mitchell at the City of Vernonia for processing all the permits, Kyle LaMontagne for his videography support, Brenda Fielding at the Caden Inn for help with accommodations, and the entire artist team,project partners, and local community residents for all their hard work and support in making this event a reality.