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Washington Center has a new message for Portland: \u201cLove, care, empathy, compassion, dignity, grace and stewardship.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the result of a new mural called 7 Pillars that wraps around the south and eastern walls of the shuttered downtown Portland commercial building at Southwest 4th Avenue and Washington Street. The massive mural of bright, digitally stylized words covers about 20,000 square feet and is a partnership between Washington Center\u2019s owner, Menashe Properties, the Portland Street Art Alliance, the city, and Metro. <\/p>\n
7 Pillars is by New Zealand street artist Askew One (aka Elliot O\u2019Donnell), who has lived in Portland since 2022. This is Askew One\u2019s first major public art installation since moving to the Rose City and an outgrowth of the artist\u2019s graphically rendered \u201cword of the day\u201d project on Instagram earlier this year. The mural has been in progress since the summer. <\/p>\n
\u201cLately I\u2019ve been thinking a lot about how we practice corporeal politics and which values help us strengthen our communities,\u201d Askew One said in a press release. \u201cI think we can all agree that Love, Care, Empathy, Compassion, Dignity, Grace, and Stewardship are amongst the greatest to hold and practice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many local artists helped Askew One paint the mural, including Ray from Hand of Dogg Murals, Ruban Nielson and helpers from the street art community They Drift, KSRA, B-Side, Jay, Theearwig22 and Aerosolsmith.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis mural breathes life and joy back into a vital part of our city. I\u2019m grateful for the outstanding teamwork with Portland Street Art Alliance and Menashe Properties to fund the mural, illuminate the sculpture, seal the tree wells, and create a space Portlanders can be proud of,\u201d said Anne Hill, director of Portland\u2019s Public Environment Management Office, in the release.<\/p>\n