Summer Murals 2010
Murals Painting 2010 Video
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Three downtown underpasses got a creative facelift this summer, courtesy of the Inland Northwest Community Foundation, Rotary Club 21, and the Spokane Arts Commission.
Spokane artist Melissa Cole will led a group of young artists from WorkSource Spokane’s Next Generation Zone, as well as student volunteers from local colleges and universities.
Sites were Fourth Avenue railroad underpass east of Sunset Boulevard the Railroad Underpasses at Monroe and Lincoln. One theme was “The Wacky World of Harold Balazs,” in conjunction with the Harold Balazs exhibit at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture.
The project is designed to provide a professional artist an opportunity to work with youth in a mentor/student relationship. The goal is to remove existing graffiti and discourage the proliferation of graffiti in public areas, and to create clean, pleasant, secure walkways.
The downtown viaduct mural project was originally conceived by representatives of the downtown business community who in 1991 approached the Spokane Arts Commission to administer the ongoing projects. Since then, the Spokane Arts Commission has spearheaded a continuing series of murals projects at railroad viaducts, under freeway parking areas and other prominent locations in and around the city.
The project is funded by grants from the Inland Northwest Community Foundation and Rotary Club 21, in addition to generous donations by City Councilman Jon Snyder, Spokane Police Department, and Spokane Fire Department. Other support came from the Regional Labor Council, the Downtown Spokane Partnership and many individuals.
