AVENUE OF MURALS
Portland, Oregon
The Central Eastside Industrial Council (CEIC) partnered with PSAA to extend our Viaduct Arts Initiative, to create an ‘Avenue of Murals’ stretching from the Eastbank Esplanade to 2nd Ave along Madison Ave.
Viaduct Arts & Avenue of Murals are inspired by the creative artistry already occurring under bridges. These partner initiatives aim to infuse vibrancy into the often-overlooked spaces beneath bridges. This multi-partner effort has a central mission: to use public art to revitalize and invigorate our shared public spaces.
In the spring of 2024, muralists Jeremy Nichols and Devin Finely wrapped 11 columns under the Hawthorne Bridge (near the esplanade). Jeremy completed 5 murals with vibrant art honoring the Central Eastside’s historic role as a center for fruit & vegetable import and sale, and the natural flora & fauna of the river. A final column celebrates outdoor recreation in the Willamette River and advocacy work of the non-profit The Human Access Project.
Devin Finley’s 5 CEIC-sponsored columns honor the historic shipping and rail that made the Central Eastside an economic engine in the 20th century, S.T.E.A.M. education initiatives from OMSI, the USS Blueback submarine, and the makers and tradespeople that have long worked in this thriving Industrial District. An additional column was sponsored by our friends and business partners at Killian Pacific. This pillar celebrates the musicians that have come to define the district today, and recognizes all the hardworking bands that turned old warehouses into practice and recording spaces and the DIY nature of Portland’s creative scene.
PSAA’s larger Viaducts Arts Column Initiative (Phase 1) kicked off in fall 2023 with murals that honored the historic Lovejoy Columns, the Portland Rose Festival’s Dragon Boats, and Ground Score Association.
"Thanks to almost a decade of hard work by various organizations, the dream of painting the bridge viaduct columns in the Central Eastside has become a reality. PSAA is incredibly thankful for our project partners and all the artists who have contributed so far. We also would like to acknowledge the support of the Ground Score Association and their assistance with wall preparation and mural base coat paint. We hope these murals become pillars of the industrial district, bridging its past, present, and future. A symbol of what makes this such a unique and fun place to work and play.” – Tiffany Conklin, Executive Director, PSAA
"We are surrounded by incredible people doing transformative work every day. Inspired by the artists already committed to this project, we saw an opportunity to expand this effort significantly. As the District's advocate for a prosperous and vibrant community, we leveraged significant funding from Prosper Portland's Community Livability Grant, enabling us to help transform the Hawthorne viaduct into the 'Avenue of Murals.' We hope visitors and locals will experience this creative corridor and then explore Central Eastside’s bustling business district.” – Carolyne Holcomb, Executive Director of Central Eastside Together.
Phase 2 Project Sponsors: Central Eastside Industrial Council, Prosper Portland, Killian Pacific, Multnomah County Transportation Division Bridges, Ground Score Association, RACC. NorthRim, Miller Paint, Star Rentals, and Montana Cans.
JEREMY NICHOLS COLUMNS
DEVIN FINLEY COLUMNS
IN THE MEDIA
KGW Story