Delridge Mural Project in Progress
Earlier this month, DNDA and Youngstown launched the final phase of the Delridge Mural Project, inviting youth participants to work alongside professional teaching artists to design and create a large public mural across from the Delridge Skate Park. We are now midway through the program and participants have already taken great strides in the creation of the mural. The design work is nearly complete, and students will soon begin priming and painting the wall.
In the first week of the program, students worked to develop art skills under the instruction of artists Louis Chinn and Sara Ferguson, who are guiding the students through the design and painting process. In the second week of the program, students visited local historical sites and public artworks to learn about the art and history of West Seattle. Field trips included visits to the Duwamish River, Camp Long, Alki, the Log House Museum, Longfellow Creek, and the Duwamish Longhouse. They also took a trip downtown to explore the Seattle Art Museum and visit large scale public murals in Pioneer Square. Through these field trips, students were able to gain a better understanding of the purpose of public art in our communities. Students drew upon these field trip experiences to inform the design of the Delridge mural, which will reflect the history, growth, and preservation of the Delridge corridor.
To cap the second week of the project, students prepared their initial design ideas and presented them to a panel of city officials, community leaders, and Youngstown residents. Participants split into teams to present the project ideas, focusing on the research, process, and design of the proposed mural. They took questions and feedback from the panel, and will incorporate what was discussed into the final design.
Now, the painting will begin! Students will work with instructors and volunteers to prime the wall and paint the final design. This is where we want the community to get involved! Volunteers who are interested in being part of the project can join in beginning July 28th. The program meets Mondays through Thursdays, from 10am-12:30pm, and 1:30pm-4:00pm. Volunteers are welcome to come to the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center during program hours to help paint, while also providing respectful and positive guidance to the youth in the program. We also invite community members to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony on August 14th from 2-3pm. Hear participants share their experiences, learn about the mural design process, and celebrate the mural’s completion with light refreshments. Hope to see you there!