This summer, Vancouver’s vibrant street art scene is getting a notable boost as the Youth Mural Project invites local artists to showcase their skills in a legal and supportive environment.
The initiative, a collaboration between Shifted Theory, Fourth Plain Forward, and La Casita Art Gallery & Cultural Center, offers youth taggers and graffiti artists the opportunity to create a mural that will be permanently displayed at Grocery Outlet, located at 5800 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd.
Executive Director Rashan Williams of Shifted Theory emphasizes the importance of the project in fostering creativity and highlighting the diverse history of the Fourth Plain corridor.
“It’s about learning, connection, bridging the gap and using art, identity, and community to express what’s going on in these times,” said Williams.
The program is financially supported by Fourth Plain Forward, the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, and the city of Vancouver.
Six local artists have been selected for the six-week, paid program that commenced recently at La Casita Art Gallery in downtown Vancouver.
As the project unfolds, Williams and Christian Barrios, the owner of La Casita and a fellow artist, will mentor the young artists in their creative journey.
Barrios noted that many of the participants may not believe in their potential for such projects, commenting, “This is the voice for the future, and the mural is the way to leave it behind.”
Participants will convene weekly to brainstorm and collaborate on themes for the mural that reflect their lives and experiences.
Topics planned for inclusion are love, family, culture, nature, food, and resistance, aiming to foster a sense of unity among the artists from diverse backgrounds.
The mural’s unveiling is scheduled for August 20 at Grocery Outlet, and Williams hopes to cultivate connections within the community through the project.
He stated, “The impact is the connection and that they get together and understand that people from different areas in their community could be similar.”
Having experienced personal challenges including a challenging family background, Williams, who moved to Vancouver during middle school, seeks to use his organization to support youth facing similar struggles.
Founded in 2023, Shifted Theory focuses on mentoring young people and collaborates with various organizations, including schools and the juvenile justice center in Clark County.
Grocery Outlet was specifically chosen as the project venue due to its significant location along Fourth Plain Boulevard, known for its rich cultural history.
Williams pointed out that many participating artists reside near the area, enabling them to draw from their own experiences as they contribute to the mural.
“We want to see their identity. We want to see vibrant diversity in it,” he emphasized, highlighting that the mural will reflect the community’s essence.
Through this initiative, the artists strive to represent various facets of the Fourth Plain culture, including family, freedom, and unity.
One of the young artists, Roselin Sanchez, 16, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating that art has a unique ability to connect individuals beyond language.
“I thought about music and dance and how that connects people,” Sanchez reflected.
She emphasizes the beauty of expression through color, noting that one doesn’t need words to connect through art.
The Youth Mural Project promises not only to beautify the community but also to inspire the next generation of artists in Vancouver.
image source from：columbian
