Street Art and History Merge in the Pearl District
"The murals bring encouragement to our city during a time of complete uncertainty... to remind us that there is still beauty all around." - Artist, Vicktoria Mosijchuk
Portlanders understand that there's something exceptional about our city. That characteristic combination of spunk, history, grit, and resilience has only been amplified in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing uncertainty and fear around the world. As doors and windows shuttered and our urban neighborhoods learned to adapt to self-isolation, the creative energy that makes Portland extraordinary flourished.
For two Portland artists, Vicktoria Mosijchuk and Anna Duvall, a creative collaboration began amid the Pearl District's shut-down. Here these artists realized the opportunity to create something both beautiful and impactful on the ubiquitous blank plywood panels covering the tagging and shattered windows.
Anna and Veronicka's first Pearl District murals began with a local bar owner, hoping to support her business and help the Pearl District look more lively and less abandoned. The concept took off, and soon vibrant images decorated the boarded-up storefronts throughout the neighborhood. The murals became the subjects of social media and local news stations, providing a variety of themes in brilliant colors to inspire passersby to reflect, laugh, and share.
The Maddox Building
The Pearl District’s street art scene was enhanced by two local artists and inspired by the Pearl District's history, an interpretation of a photograph taken on the corner of 12th and Hoyt in the early 1900s of the Maddox Building. The project was stylistically different from earlier more graffiti-like projects, but the outcome was the same -- a smashing success for the neighborhood and a wonderful addition to the historic 13th Street corridor.
For the artists, the mural projects became more than just commissions. The murals became a sort of catharsis for the artists at a time when the economic downturn had taken a personal toll.
"Painting these murals helped me to stay sane and gave me a sense of purpose during this crazy time of Coronagheddon. Like many people, I had suddenly lost my restaurant job of 15 years. I wanted the art to make people forget about this crazy reality and brighten their day and mood if only for a second." - artist, Anna Duvall
While touring the mural projects, the artists’ reflect on why art in its infinite formats is essential to our culture. The murals are the artists' expression of this time and place, a series of brightly colored images reflecting who we are and how we cope during an unprecedented health crisis.
"I wanted to capture the "Zeitgeist" of this time in history, so we made sure to include masks and COVID characters but made it spunky and fun. Like if the Mona Lisa has been painted during this time in history, she would've been pictured wearing a face mask. " - artist, Anna Duvall
More information on Vicktoria and Anna, follow on Instagram:
Anna Duvall @annadeeznutz
Vicktoria Mosijchuk @vmovisuals
Website: www.vmovisuals.com
Article: SVCO Strategies
