Sometimes you can see the writing on the wall. You can stop and think about what it means, and other times you can simply enjoy the paintings you see and dream.
Archaeology reveals that cave paintings and figures of art first appeared nearly 40,000 years ago. Art is still with us. Our daughter Andrea painted our living room with clouds and sky for the ceiling. Visitors to our home are always surprised and awed. Sharing art and beauty is a wonderful gift to explore and give.
Downtown Tacoma has a number of interesting murals on exterior walls. They brighten the scenery and amuse daily visitors. The word “amuse” come from the middle French word “to divert the attention, beguile, delude.” In other words, amuse means to change focus and enjoy.
There is a new mural on the wall at 23rd and Pacific. It’s painted by lindsay moore and her husband, who is known as Gator_Mouf (instagram.com/#gator_mouf).
Lindsay says, “We are just trying to beautify the city with the pandemic and protesting going on. Hopefully no more damage will be done. It’s nice to drive by and see beautiful art on these boards.”
Lindsay, reveals, “Painted with my love for the last few evenings. I learned how to spray paint. Most know i work with brushes. Hand def hurts.” Lindsay says, “We also did one for jade gardens in Seattle id town. After they were broken into in the beg of the pandemic.”
Lindsay also does commercial work and says, “I did an 8 room day care center in Bremerton of characters for the little kids.”
Art is always an opportunity to share and think . . . and look at life from a different perspective.
Artistry from the soul by lindsay moore – facebook.com/mommag8tr/
Beautoful job don. Well said. Thank you.
I love art. And I love murals.
When Charles and I opened our flower shop in the Historic District of Steilacoom years ago, we hired radio personality Carl Sawyer and his young son Benjamin Sawyer, who were both outstanding artists, to paint murals inside the shop featuring cartoon characters on three walls in an area we called the Children’s Corner. We had set aside the space with comfortable tables and chairs for local kids to stop in after school and do their homework, if they didn’t have anyone at home to greet them when school let out for the day. We welcomed them.
Similarly, we also provided space a business center for the Steilacoom Chamber of Commerce, which didn’t have an office of its own.
As for outdoor murals and painting on walls. I draw a distinction — as I’m sure you do — between art that “tries to beautify” (as Lindsay said in your article) in contrast to graffiti, which I abhor.
Going way back to the late 1980s when I first became involved with the Safe Streets Initiative headed by Priscilla Lisicich, I helped organize teams of volunteers each Saturday morning. Armed with only paint brushes, we would go out into designated areas around Hilltop and paint over gang graffiti each week. During that time I served as the manager of the paint warehouse in an old brick building in downtown Tacoma. Hundreds of people donated cans of paint of every color — partially used and/or full cans — to use to cover over the damaging graffiti.
It is my hope that anywhere outdoor murals appear that the artists have first obtained permission from the property owners to create the murals.
Whenever we have visitors from out-of-town, we enjoy taking them on a tour around the city to see the colorful murals that are vibrant and abundant in Tacoma.
Jaynie,
I love your history. I agree gang related is verboten, but art is lovely. However, Peg loves some of the art she sees on railroad cars as the travel along Ruston Way. I even used to enjoy art painted on the concrete sides along the Puyallup River as well. Art is amazing, but yes put it were permission is granted.
Thanks for sharing info about you and Charles . . . personal AND interesting.
Thanks for sharing.
Don