Art in the time of COVID-19: Boarded-up Tacoma storefronts transformed with murals
Along Opera Alley in downtown Tacoma, the word “Love” is painted on the boarded-up windows of Union Salon, with colors radiating across the plywood.
The mural, painted by artist Mindy Barker over the weekend, is one of many popping up in Tacoma amid Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-home order to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
“I hope that it gives (people) a little bit more hope,” said Barker, who was born and raised in Tacoma and has painted other murals around town.
The governor’s stay-home order deemed many businesses as “non-essential,” causing them to close up shop.
In Tacoma, some of those businesses decided to temporarily board up their windows as a precautionary measure, causing some confusion among passersby.
“People keep asking, ‘Are the businesses closed?’... I think people are a little worried,” Barker said.
In an effort to keep up Tacoma’s spirits, the Downtown Tacoma Partnership, with help from Spaceworks Tacoma, started a “rapid mural” program.
“If a business decides to board up, we will pay muralists to put something up on the boards,” explained David Schroedel, executive director of the Downtown Tacoma Partnership.
So far, six murals have been created, including at Bleach, Dunagan Brewing and UrbanXchange storefronts. The commission is about $75 per plywood piece, Schroedel said.
Over the weekend, artist Saiyare Refaei painted spring flowers at London’s On the Ave and Channing Baby & Co. in Tacoma, reflecting on those who might be sad about missing out on the daffodil and tulip festivals this year. She added segments of a poem she’d written.
“Art is supposed to reflect the times,” Refaei told The News Tribune. “My hope is that these are reminders of our resilience and collective positive impact during trying times.”
Refaei noticed people having photo shoots next to the art and taking walks to come see it.
”I hope the murals bring some pause, stillness and joy to those passing by,” Refaei said. “I hope people are reminded that they are loved.”
Another effort supported in part by MultiCare, Rotator Creative and Grit City Magazine is bolstering art and positivity around the city.
The Hope Grows Here community project launched in March as a “morale boost” amid the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak. The featured project is “window gardens,” where people create flowers and messages and display them on their windows. So far, more than 600 people have joined the cause, said Dori Young, vice president of MultiCare Foundations.
Multicare also commissioned artists to create window gardens at businesses, including Bluebeard Coffee, Anthem Coffee locations and the Children’s Museum of Tacoma.
“We’re hoping it’s a reminder that it’s important to take care of each other and even though we feel isolated and we feel stuck, we can help each other through it,” Young said.
Refaei said she couldn’t have made the murals alone — helping hands, paint donations and behind the scenes coordination made it happen.
“Not all hope is lost when our community comes together,” she said.
