Colossal Mural Brings Color and Hope to Downtown

News Article

View full size image of Arists on hanging platform paint giant LOVE mural on downtown office building..

The City of Portland's Public Environment Management Office (PEMO) works with Askew One, the Portland Street Art Alliance, and property owners to add a giant splash of art to a vital downtown intersection.

Love. Care. Empathy. Compassion. Dignity. Grace. Stewardship.

Those are the core messages of 7 Pillars, the monumental art installation that now graces the walls of the Washington Center in downtown Portland, thanks to partnership by the City of Portland's Public Environment Management Office (PEMO), the Portland Street Art Alliance, Menashe Properties, and the Metro regional government.

PEMO is the city office tasked with promoting economic vitality, public safety, and community resilience by activating public spaces. PEMO's work takes many forms: sidewalk cleaning, twinkly lights, even turning an empty lot in Old Town into a DIY skatepark.

The gigantic new mural, created by internationally renowned street artist Askew One (aka Elliot O'Donnell), covers nearly 20,000 square feet, about half the size of a football field.

The project began in 2022, after Askew One, a central figure in the Aotearoa New Zealand street art scene, moved to Portland and began a daily practice of posting artistic renderings of those seven words to his Instagram account. Living in the Central Eastside, he also witnessed firsthand the toll the pandemic had taken on the streets of Portland. Could art help the city bounce back?

The answer is a resounding yes. Those seven words now broadcast a message of hope and inspiration from a corner which was once the epicenter of the city's fentanyl crisis, at the intersection of tragedy and despair.

Askew One and the Portland Street Art Alliance worked with PEMO to bring the project to life. PEMO has sponsored murals throughout Portland, but never taken on a project of this scale before.

Askew One was assisted by Portland artists Ray from Hand of Dogg Murals, Ruban Nielson of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, They Drift, KSRA, B-Side, Jay, Theearwig22, and Aerosolsmith. The giant installation took several weeks to complete. Photo credit: Portland Street Art Alliance.

Partner voices

Street artist Askew One works on the monumental mural "7 Pillars" in downtown Portland. Photo credit: Portland Street Art Alliance.

"I am so honored to have had this experience," Askew One said. "To have this idea received and enabled by PSAA, Menashe Properties, and the City is incredibly humbling. I moved to Portland three years ago and dreamed about painting the Washington Center. To have this become a reality and for it to also be a mural conveying something I believe is so necessary in this moment is a dream come true!"

"This mural breathes life and joy back into a vital part of our city," says Anne Hill, director of PEMO. "I'm 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. What a great way to help area local businesses, support local artists, and show the power of art to transform our city and ourselves."

People admire the gargantuan art installation "7 Pillars" from across the street on SW Fourth Avenue. Photo credit: Portland Street Art Alliance.

"7 Pillars represents the transformative power of public-private partnerships and what becomes possible when artists receive the support to bring bold visions to life," says Tiffany Conklin, executive director of the Portland Street Art Alliance. "We think this absolutely massive and prominent mural is already making a meaningful impact in our downtown core. PSAA is truly honored to have collaborated with each of these artists and partners to make it a reality."

"The corner of 4th and Washington hits differently now when I pass by - it's impossible not to feel something when you see Elliot's vision come to life on such a key corner in downtown," says Lauren Menashe of Menashe Properties. "This mural has become a symbol of what Portland can be, and we hope it inspires more action, creativity, and momentum across our beloved city. We appreciate our partnership with the City of Portland and PSAA in making this possible."

The installation itself was a monumental task. Thankfully, Askew One was assisted by legendary Portland-based creatives Ray from Hand of Dogg Murals, Ruban Nielson (artist and member of Unknown Mortal Orchestra), along with helpers from the street art community, including They Drift, KSRA, B-Side, Jay, Theearwig22, and Aerosolsmith.

Learn more about 7 Pillars.

Learn more about PEMO.