Talking Walls

Overview

Public art promotes community pride and visual interest. Within THPRD parks, the purpose of public art is to make places more vibrant, livable, accessible, and creative. Public art could be imaginative, engaging, dynamic, interactive, aesthetically pleasing, connected, and sustainable.

Objective

THPRD stands with our community in solidarity for racial justice. We want to provide our community with the space and time to share their messages of hope, inspiration, and purpose.

• What is a Talking Wall?

A Talking Wall is a form of expression and visual storytelling about social and cultural relevant themes. It is usually represented as a mural, but it may be a different form of art. The objective of these spaces is to serve as a source of hope, inspiration and education for patrons and district visitors.

Where are the Talking Walls series located?

• Sunset Park Sport Complex

These series were created by:

• The Sunset Highschool Black Student Union who brought together commuity, students, families and artists to create five Talking Walls, including the art instalation "I Have a Dream" by Amara Marluke.

• Color Outside the Lines (COLT) a non-profit that strives to empower and inspire foster and at-risk youth by providing opportunities with art, music, movement and creativity.

Activities included the creation of three four, an art instalation and additional activities such as Spoken Word with Ted Talk presenter Deangelo Raines. The "I Have a Dream" art installation showcases the dreams of youth in the form of several fists and depicted in a way that you read “I Have a Dream” visible on Cornell Rd. right next to Sunset Highschool's main entrance. There was a Chalk the Block activity (Chalk Art) and a Message Garden.

Event photos here

• Greenway Park

The Talking Walls in Greenway Park is our second mural project within the district. THPRD and Color Outside the Lines collaborated once again in the creation of three murals.

For this occasion, COLT brought together for a placemaking event with the collaboartion of three Native artists from the Pacific Northwest:

• Rudy Redstone Serna with the piece “Beloved Ancestors”. More on Rudy
• Toma Villa with the piece “Those who live along the rivers”. More on Toma
• Pattrick Price with the piece “Sunset Hummingbird”. More on Pattrick

Youth aged 4 -18 years were invited for a working session to paint and connect with artists. They also partcipated with:

-An activity led by Mariah Makalapua "Meaning and Creation of a Truth Stick".

-And "Storytelling - Elk & Sturgeon" with Toma Villa

Listen to the artists explain each of their pieces on this video created by The Oregonian

The Talking Walls in Greenway Park are located on the corner of SW Greenway Blvd and SW Parkview Loop (next to Greenway Elementary School).

• Howard M. Terpenning Complex - Aquatic Center

The theme for this series is: Belonging
with the supporting themes of Community, Resilience, Youth, Presence and Home.

Latinx artists alongside THPRD and Color Outside the Lines hosted a day for mural making, art and conversation. Local area youth were invited to collaborate in the creation of murals as well as a songwriting workshop with Joaquín López to co-create a Corrido song that was played at the end of the event. We also had the participation of Macuilxochitl dance group with a space for sharing and learning.

Participating Muralists:

• Hector Hernandez
• Fernando Mendez Corona
• William Hernández
• Maria Rodriguez
• Rudy Redstone Serna
• Victor Bizar Gómez

• Howard M. Terpenning Complex - Babette Horenstein Tennis Center & PCC Rock Creek

THPRD and Color Outside the Lines collaborated in a Talking Walls series at the Babette Horenstein Tennis Center in honor of AANHPI heritage and culture.

Anisa Asakawa, Alex Chiu and Jax Ko collaborated in the design and creation of a mural that celebrates community, family and heritage.

Local youth and their families were invited to connect and paint with artists, and enjoy traditional snacks.

Additional activities included a clay workshop led by Limei Lai and a Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy) class with Naoko Stonelake.

Nike designer Bryce Wong collaborated with another piece at PCC Rock Creek

This project is funded and made possible by the Oregon Cultural Trust and the Tualatin Hills Park Foundation

We are very grateful to the participating artists, attending youth and families, partners, teachers, and to the funders that make these meaningful spaces and welcoming events a reality!