ODE TO OLD TOWN
OLD TOWN, Portland, Oregon
The Chevron gas station at SW 4th and Burnside in Old Town has been transformed from drab brick to a vibrant mural collage celebrating Portland’s downtown nightlife, past and present. Muralist, Campographic, stitched together multiple murals that wrap around the entire building. Graphic elements help tie each panel together to create one cohesive piece.
The first mural is a tribute to Portland’s drag icon, Darcelle XV (Walter Cole). Darcelle was the owner of the Darcelle XV Showplace; the oldest continuously running cabaret in the U.S. Darcelle is in the Guinness World Records for being the oldest working drag queen. The venue’s ability to welcome and educate, combined with its authentic celebration of drag culture, contributed to a cultural shift in the acceptance of gay rights & drag performance across the country. Darcelle passed away in 2023 at age 92, having performed her last show just a few days before. But the show must go on! The Showplace is a protected historic site and living piece of Portland history.
The back of the building features a series of collaged murals highlighting our vibrant club scene. The first two murals are an homage to Portland’s jazz scene. The first features the musician Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah playing at The Jack London, a basement jazz club in Old Town and a dancer onstage at the beloved Portland jazz institution, Jimmy Mak’s (1996-2016). The next series of murals highlight Mary’s Club. Mary’s started as a piano bar in the 30’s and has been a strip club since 1954, making it one of the oldest in the U.S. The last panel features the Portland skyline with the sun setting behind the West Hills. The sunset afterglow fades into the green glow of the dance floor, as a record spins in the foreground. A nod to the entrance of TUBE, a popular dance club, frames the wall.
The final section is a tribute to the legendary Satyricon, the longest running punk club in the west, often called the “CBGB of the West Coast.” Satyricon was founded by George Touhouliotis, a taxi driver who acquired Marlena's Tavern in 1983. It operated from 1984 to 2010 and was notorious for being a gritty and wild venue. Steve Carder, a regular, described Satyricon as a “judgment-free place” and “a cool family of weirdos.” Satyricon regrettably closed its doors forever in 2010 and the building was demolished a year later in 2011.
Campographic’s incredible collage of Portland’s legendary nightlife is a tribute to our creative energies and these special places, where we come together to unwind, party, find community, and be our true ourselves.
Mural Titles:
“That’s No Lady, That’s Darcelle!” - Darcelle Mural
“Happy Hour,” “Mak & Jack” - Jimmy Mak’s and Jack London Jazz Clubs
“Heavy Glow,” “At The Rack,” “TIP$$$” - Mary’s Club Murals
“Good Times Portland” - Portland Dance Club and TUBE Murals
“Madness & Glory” - Satyricon Mural
ARTIST STATEMENT
“For my debut commission from PSAA, I wanted to highlight Portland’s nightlife culture in a series of murals for Chevron. There is a lot of history here, with some venues still in operation all this time and others that have shuttered for good. In an ever changing city, I felt it was important to recognize some of the unique scenes that have put Portland on the map and to pay tribute to those no longer here. The project has a slight “Choose Your Own Adventure” feel to it with an aesthetic nodding to the torn up and layered posters advertising events around town. This coupled with layered colors and textures creates an atmosphere of expressive energy as you make your way around the walls. The color palette was intended to embody heavy contrast, dark tones and bright colors to pop under the awning lights of the station at night where the images come alive.” – Campographic
