Unity Through Arts: Amplifying Voices with Public Art Projects

Written By Mark Bennett

The 2024 mural on the Arts Plaza Apartments marks another year of incredible expression and perspective from our students. In collaboration with the artist Christian Téllez García, the students designed and painted a beautiful mural that gives voice to their feelings and leaves a permanent public impact on Gresham.

Many of the students involved in the project grew up and live in the surrounding Gresham area. To them, and all of the other students involved, this mural is a way for them to express the needs of their community as well as their personal perspectives, growths, and experiences. An example of how important this is comes from the artist Christian, “the power to create murals and expose them to the community gives you the power to inspire others.” Having a direct impact on their community through the arts is one of the core pillars of Wonderfolk. 

Our Unity Through Arts program is connecting the fellows with their community and other communities by engaging them in these public arts projects. As part of our vision, these artistic projects amplify the students' expressions of their lived experiences and gives them first hand examples of how powerful their stories can be. Arts are often one of the first things cut when it comes to public funding as shown by Portland’s recent decision to cut funding for the RACC. The RACC was a publicly funded not-for-profit organization that was founded to steward public investments in the arts and was even funded in part by taxes paid by Portlanders. While some districts get funding, there isn’t enough access for BIPOC students to engage in public art projects. Christian, when talking about the Arts Plaza Apartments mural, stated that they “...my interest in arts began around the same age as these groups,” and that “I could have discovered my artistic skills earlier if I had the chance to be in programs like this when I was growing up.” Wonderfolk works to close gaps like these and aims to give youth the agency to make an impact where there might not otherwise be access.

This year’s mural focused on themes of diversity, climate resiliency, and access to nature. The students met several times to discuss these themes and design the details for the large surface area of the mural. All of these ideas come directly from these students' voices, what they think the community needs, and how they can grow together. The colorful flowers and plants grow and intertwine, filling the 200 foot long space, as a reminder of how these art projects enmesh all of us in the community.

Mark Bennett
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