Under the iconic Hawthorne Bridge on Portland’s Central Eastside, a vibrant open-air art gallery awaits passersby as cars rumble overhead and trains rumble through.
This artistic haven features graffiti that turns warehouse buildings into sprawling canvases, with the columns supporting the bridge becoming vivid expressions of creativity over the past few years.
One of the artists contributing to this artistic metamorphosis is Paola De La Cruz. She shared her inspiration for the latest installation on the bridge’s columns, highlighting the rich cultural tapestry of dance in Portland.
“So all the columns have a different theme,” De La Cruz noted. “For this one, one thing I was inspired by was dance in Portland.”
De La Cruz’s work also draws from the community surrounding the area. A local art studio nearby welcomed her, and she formed a connection with a neighbor experiencing houselessness who spent time with her during the painting process.
“He even gifted me his paint box,” she said. “It was nice to just talk to people. They were just super interested in seeing what was happening.”
Tiffany Conklin from the Portland Street Art Alliance (PSAA) elaborated on the project’s broader significance. PSAA crafted a concept list, highlighting important historical and cultural moments for the Central Eastside to inspire the artists.
“There were more topics than funding for the columns, so we can probably keep going down another entire viaduct with the content that we have,” Conklin shared.
Among the themes explored are produce row and the shipping and warehousing industry, as well as OMSI’s contributions to science and technology, showcased through representations such as submarines featured on the columns.
The colorful viaduct paintings are part of a larger endeavor initiated in 2018, made possible by a grant from the Oregon Community Foundation, which aims to foster a Central Eastside mural district.
Conklin expressed appreciation for the “gritty and kind of grimy nature” of the area where the art flourishes. “The trains are coming through, and there’s always crazy activity happening. That’s really where artists were for many decades; that’s where a lot of the cheap artist studio spaces used to be.”
While the Hawthorne Bridge Viaduct paintings are now complete, they are far from the only public art initiatives redefining Portland’s streets and spaces.
During the pandemic, several locations incorporated murals to create temporary outdoor meeting spaces.
The Portland Art Museum also organized events on Madison Street, painting a large mural of a rose, which Stephanie Parrish described as a natural extension of the museum.
“We called it a parklet, right there between the park blocks,” Parrish said. “In this plaza for those two summers, we had concerts and DJs and fashion shows and little pop-up markets.”
Parrish, who manages PAM’s community learning partnerships, emphasized the importance of art during challenging times. “Art is essentially … what makes us human, to connect … to ideas and each other. We need spaces where we can be together to feel human. Art helps ease that.”
John Goodwin, director of community philanthropy at the Portland Art Museum, has played a pivotal role in securing funds for an upgraded parklet. This initiative is part of the Asphalt Art Initiative, an international program dedicated to using art to enhance street safety and foster community engagement.
“I just thought it was something beautiful. This is just beautiful — I like pretty things,” Goodwin remarked. “No, it’s way-finding. In other places where they’ve done it, it slows down the traffic. They stop and look for a little bit longer than they would when they’re just walking across the street.”
Look forward to seeing a new mural next summer by Yinka Ilori, a British Nigerian artist known for his bold, geometric style. His work will depict iconic Oregon imagery, including Mount Hood and the Hawthorne Bridge.
Returning to the artistic space beneath the Hawthorne Bridge, Paola De La Cruz shared her feelings about the community’s positive response to her painted column.
“It’s hard for someone that isn’t an artist or around a lot of artists to walk into a gallery and feel comfortable,” De La Cruz said. “But with public art, we’re bringing the art to you, and it’s in your space. Even the tagging… it feels like they’re adding on to the art. It’s interesting; it feels like a collaboration. It speaks more to people just feeling ownership of the art that’s here.”
image source from：opb
