Public Art of Tigard

Where do we usually see art? 

The first thing you may think of might be an art museum. What about, on the walls of our homes, or in businesses, or doctor/dentist office? Sometimes furniture is carved or molded in unusual and creative ways, light fixtures or lamps can become works of art. Fabrics are made using art, think about the images, or patterns on pillows or blankets. What about statues of famous people or animals? 

What is Public Art?

Public art is visually and physically accessible to the public – it is installed or staged in public spaces, usually outside. Art for public spaces enhances the experience of that space, inspiring pride and contributing to a deeper understanding of our community. It often relates to the history, culture, or mythology of the area.

Dinosaur Sculpture, 2007, Dreamland Skateparks Concrete Photo Credit: Paul Landeros 

This fun sculpture is part of Jim Griffith Memorial Skatepark, a 15,000 SF concrete park named after late mayor Jim Griffith, who was an advocate for Tigard youth and the skate park project. Fun fact: Jim Griffith Memorial Skatepark was designed and built by Dreamland Skateparks. Raise a quiet hand if you have seen the dinosaur sculpture.

Burnham Street Sidewalk Art, 2011, Tigard Volunteers Stencil on pavement Photo Credit: Paul Landeros Don't forget to look down as you take the art walk! This series of sidewalk stamps can be found along Burnham Street and was created as part of the City of Tigard's New Burnham Street project. The stamps were designed by school children who drew pictures of local threatened species that live in the Fanno Creek corridor.

The Interactivators, 2009, Frank Boyden and Brad Rude Bronze Photo Credit: Trimet Commissioned by Trimet and found on the platform of the Tigard WES station, this interactive sculptural table features 16 unique, moveable bronze heads that express a full range of human emotions, traits, and conditions. The sculptures, in addition to being unique works of art, offer a potential game that can be played by one person or an entire station of people. There are no winners or losers, but rather opportunities for infinite encounters that can create social interaction, offer insight or produce a simple moment of pleasure.

Rivers, 2009, Site Painters Acrylic on wall Photo Credit: Paul Landeros This mural can be seen on the wall facing the WES platform at Tigard Transit Center. Commissioned by Trimet for the WES Commuter Rail project, "Rivers" is a panoramic mural depicting people enjoying and caring for the natural riches found in the Tualatin watershed.

Building Our New Landscape, 2021, Emily Lux Nova Color Acrylic paint on E-Panel Aluminum Composite Material This mural is on the stationary shop on Main St, across from the Post Office. Lux said, “Some of the symbolism involved here is just the ability for light to come out of the darkness.” She projected the artwork image onto large panels, traced the lines and said, “it looked like a giant coloring book, and each community member who came to participate could fill in individual colors.” Over 300 volunteers helped to paint and work on this mural.

Tigardville Station Mural, 2010, Chris Babin Acrylic on wall Photo Credit: Paul Landeros Located on the side of Tigardville Station, this full wall mural combines the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with a bit of whimsy, there are scenes of the local landscape with a smiling sun.

Decorative Glass Baskets, 2015, Live, Laugh, Love, Art Blown glass and steel Photo Credit: Paul Landeros Scattered throughout Main Street, these hanging glass baskets were commissioned by the Tigard Downtown Alliance and made by Live, Laugh, Love, Art. Colorful blown glass orbs are held in place in decorative steel baskets. Keep an eye out as you walk, there are 20 glass baskets in total.

Butterfly Statue, 2016, Jesse Swickard Stainless steel Photo Credit: Paul Landeros Installed for the third annual Downtown Tigard Art Walk and commissioned by the business it sits in front of, this butterfly was created to signify joy and movement.

Mobius, 2010, Ben Dye Recycled Post-Consumer Materials Photo Credit: Paul Landeros This work is currently outside of Symposium Coffee, it is part of the Tigard Downtown Alliance's "Art on Loan" program, which places art leased from local artists in locations around downtown Tigard. Mobius was created from recycled post-consumer metals.

Tigard Outdoor Museum Mural, 2020, MJ Lindo-Lawyer Acrylic on wall Photo Credit: Paul Landeros This mural, one of two painted at this location as part of the Tigard Outdoor Museum project, contains references to historic cultures, local wildlife, and water. Facing one another, the two murals create an immersive experience for onlookers. Supported in part by a $75,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant and funding from Washington County Visitors Association, this mural was commissioned by the City of Tigard as part of the Tigard Outdoor Museum project. The mural depicts the Tualatin Valley's earliest inhabitants and what they valued most. These first inhabitants were the Atfalati also known as the Tualatin or Wapato Lake Indians were a tribe of the Kalapuya Native Americans. The murals showcase large animals as spiritual guides. The wolf leads a young woman on her fishing voyage - an activity that had deep cultural significance to the Atfalati, and which remains very popular in the Tualatin Valley to this day.

Tigard Outdoor Museum Mural, 2020, MJ Lindo-Lawyer Acrylic on wall Photo Credit: Paul Landeros The two mirroring artworks painted under the 99W underpass show a contrast in color. One is lit up in mainly orange hues, while the other mural is muted in blue colors. The dueling colors depict the two extremes of summer and winter. The murals' artists chose to depict the duality of nature, with a cooler scene, and then a warmer, brighter scene shown on the opposite wall. Artist MJ Lindo-Lawyer is a professional muralist with an extensive portfolio of large-scale works between California and Mexico. Her works are inspired by the communities surrounding the mural sites, making her the perfect match for the Outdoor Museum project which seeks to highlight and bring awareness to the experiences of historically-marginalized communities.

Live, Settle, Advance, 2020, Christine Clark Mild Steel Photo Credit: Paul Landeros "Live, Settle, Advance" is a series of three sculptures that represent the history of Tigard, honoring the Native Americans, Pioneers and the railroad industry of the area. One is shaped like a basket, one is shaped like a tree stump with an axe, and one is shaped like a railroad iron/track. They each have images woven into the pieces; apple, bell, water tower, leaves, mortar and pestle, horn, vase, coffee mill, coffee pot, Dutch oven, vegetables, and more!

Tualatin Lifeblood, 2020, Jennifer Kuhns Glass Mosaic on Stone Photo Credit: Paul Landeros "Tualatin Lifeblood" features blue mosaic inlays that invoke the essential elements of land and waterways that supported the Tualatin Valley's first inhabitants. The glass pieces running throughout are placed in a pattern that suggests water. The mosaic contains other images that celebrate the local area such as plants and flowers.

Unnamed (Fanno Creek Trail Mural), 2014, Ashley Montague Aerosol on wall Photo Credit: Paul Landeros Painted along the Fanno Creek Trail near Grant Avenue, this mural depicts a checkered flag-like pattern that dips and dives along a retaining wall, creating an optical illusion that appears to be in motion as you pass by. The mural was the first public art commissioned by the City of Tigard.

A Walk Through Time, 2019, Jeremy Nichols Aerosol on wall Photo Credit: Paul Landeros Located along the Fanno Creek Trail, A Walk Through Time was commissioned by the City of Tigard and depicts images from Tigard's history, including a representation of the Kalapuya tribe (the indigenous inhabitants of the area) and native flora (plants) and fauna (animals).

Multicultural Stormwater Art, 2018, Kanaan Kanaan Acrylic on pavement Photo Credit: Metro This art was commissioned by Tualatin Riverkeepers with support of a Metro Community Placemaking grant. The work promotes awareness and stewardship of the Tualatin River and the surrounding lands that drain into it. The mural bears one simple message, written in three languages: Drains to Tualatin River. Artist Kanaan Kanaan painted the stormwater drain next to Fanno Creek, which eventually drains into the Tualatin River. The mural is partly influenced by the geometrical patterns found in Islamic art. The overlapping interconnection between people, animals, and the environment inspired him.

Corylus, 2016, Brian Borello Painted, welded steel Photo Credit: Paul Landeros The pair of sculptures mark each end of Main Street. Commissioned by the City of Tigard, this artwork was inpired by the natural features and agricultural history of the area - especially the filbert (hazelnut) orchards that once prospered in Tigard. Oregon is the top producer of US hazelnuts! First, they were painted pink, then green. What color do you think they will be painted next? 

Cross Street Banner Poles, 2017, Ben Dye Blown Glass and Steel Photo Credit: Paul Landeros This project features two artistic sculptural elements placed on either side of Main Street. These stand-alone art pieces are used to hold promotional banners for downtown events. The Tigard Downtown Alliance commissioned them. 

Vishnu, 1989, Artist Unkown Fiberglass Photo Credit: Paul Landeros This sculpture rests atop the roof of Jeffrey Allen Gallery depicts Vishnu, believed to dream the world into existence as he sleeps.

Universal Plaza Ground Mural, 2020, Susan Charnquist, Liam McLaughlin, Emily Lux and Raziah Roushan Traffic Paint on Asphalt Photo Credit: Paul Landeros This brightly colored, 34,000 square foot ground mural was completed in 10 days and painted by local muralists. The design includes multi-colored rays emanating from three in-property and off-property vantage points, as well as a series of large blue dots connected by a topographic-inspired path. The mural was created entirely out of commercial traffic paint, which makes the colors bolder, and scope of the project even more impressive.

One Nothing, 2015, Susan Schimelfining Salvaged materials Photo Credit: Paul Landeros This sculpture is part of the Tigard Downtown Alliance's "Art on Loan" program, which places art leased from local artists in locations around downtown Tigard. One Nothing was made from salvaged farm equipment and steel beams from a building demolition.