Summary

Street Art Project 2023 & 2025

Street mural painting event flyer, sponsorship logos at the bottom. Dress for weather, bring chairs, and enjoy lunch, snacks, and activities for kids.

STREET MURAL REFRESH PAINTING EVENT

On June 21, 2025 MNA hosted a community event to refresh the paint on the street mural “Multnomah Mola” by Amaranta Colindres at SW 36th & Canby, with support from District 4 Coalition. The artwork was designed and installed as a part of the MNA Street Art Project.

2023 MNA STREET ART PROJECT WITH MURAL INSTALLATION

March - July 2023

View the final report (2023).

Colorful abstract patterns of 'Multnomah Mola' with farm animals.

The MNA Street Art Project is a series of community events March-July 2023 funded by grant money from Civic Life promoting civic engagement and the creation of safety-focused placemaking art projects in highly traveled pedestrian areas of the Multnomah Neighborhood. It will:

Build community among diverse neighbors.
Create art in public spaces.
Provide an inclusive artform to reflect the messages of the community and artist(s) from a diverse backgrounds, abilities, cultures, heritages and ages.
Participate in the City Repair Project 2023 Village Building Convergence.
Include education about pedestrian safety.
Connect residents to local government (e.g., PBOT) to have their voices heard when it comes to walking, biking and rolling in SW Portland.

People creating large street mural with intricate black and white patterns and colorful accents on paved road.

Woman painting chalk sun around a manhole cover on street, wearing gloves and white shirt.

People creating a colorful mural on a street, painting with brushes on a large outdoor surface.

People creating large chalk art mural, with some individuals observing and smiling on the sidewalk, surrounded by trees and residential buildings.

A woman in glasses talking to a young boy at red food truck. Inside, woman with red hair, glasses, and hat is serving. The truck has signs with QR codes and donation information.

Group of people painting large street art with farm animals in bold outlines. People are kneeling, standing or bending. There are traffic cones, tents, and trees in the background, with houses on a suburban street.

Man with paint on his hand waving at the camera, while people, including children, are painting large street art outdoors in a neighborhood.

Community gathers on residential street to create colorful, large-scale mural. Bicycles and backpacks are on grass. Trees and houses line the street under cloudy skies.

Man and woman share high-five outdoors on a sunny day, with trees and sidewalk in the background.

People creating outline of animals for large street mural, with some observing or working on the artwork, and a tent set up nearby under trees.

Red pickup truck with a creative sign in front selling mugs and tea horse mugs, under a colorful canopy with people sitting on mats on the ground.

Three people standing under a white canopy tent, smiling, wearing safety vests, at an outdoor event with tables and informational signs.

People working on a colorful street art mural, with crowd gathered and tents set up in the background, surrounded by trees.

Colorful street art depicting cow holding ice cream cone, with children and adult standing in the background.

Outdoor gathering with sandwiches on boards and plates on table with blue checkered tablecloth, people serving and receiving food, and person talking on phone in the background.

People creating outline of animals for large street mural. Several people working and sitting nearby, with tools, paint cans, and supplies scattered around.

Child with blonde hair wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt and sandals painting colorful art on the street.

People gathered outdoors on a cloudy day, working together to create a colorful street mural, with trees and several tents in the background.

Woman playing acoustic guitar and singing into microphone outdoors on grassy area with trees and house in background.

People creating colorful street art on sunny day.

Child painting vibrant, swirling street art with assistance of adult.

Woman kneels on the ground, painting a colorful mural, including abstract shapes, and she is holding paintbrush and container of purple paint.

Four open cans of white paint, five red cups, five paintbrushes, a plastic bucket of white paint, and a piece of blue paper on a beige drop cloth.

Colorful street art featuring yellow cat with purple whiskers eating from blue bowl, surrounded by abstract patterns, with residential houses and trees in background.

Two people kneeling on the ground at an outdoor chalk art event, smiling and exchanging a small object. In the background, others are sitting on ground or standing, engaging in painting , with some tents and a ladder visible.

Person creating colorful street art featuring a tiger's face with pink, yellow, blue, green, purple, and black outlines, surrounded by intricate patterns.

Three paint rollers painting vertical stripes in green, red, orange, and blue on a wall.

6/17/23 MURAL PAINTING

JUNE 17 MNA STREET ART PROJECT MURAL PAINTING EVENT

SW 36TH AVE & CANBY ST, 9AM-9PM

Join us for the closing day of the City Repair Village Building Convergence (VBC) for a free, all ages community building event in which professional mural artist Amaranta Colindres will guide volunteers in painting a mural on the surface of the pavement in the intersection. Afterward, 6-9PM we’ll celebrate with a block party, potluck, and keynote speakers from City Repair’s sister organization, PlacemakingUS, which is linked to the global network of organizations and cultures employing placemaking as a means to build resilient and thriving communities.

ARTIST AMARANTA COLINDRES (WEBSITE)

A selection committee reviewed applications from an open call to mural artists in April and selected Amaranta Colindres to create an original mural design in dialog with the community and lead the volunteer driven mural painting. She is a professional muralist, fine artist and teacher (more info and galleries of her past work).

BYO place setting (e.g., plate, forks, cups etc) and folding chair (if seating is desired)

JUNE 17 SCHEDULE

DAYTIME PROGRAM 8am-6pm

8AM Volunteers setting up (8-9:30) including T-Horse!

9:00AM Opening Social gathering (RSVP to bring snacks here), begin chalking down design

9.30AM Announcements, welcome, land acknowledgement, project introduction

10AM-12PM volunteers paint first coat of primer. RSVP to paint here.

12PM-1PM eat lunch together.

1-2PM Artist chalks down design.

2-4 PAINTING SESSION 1! RSVP to paint here.

2pm musical accompaniment of live singer/songwriter, Kjirsten.

4-6 PAINTING SESSION 2! RSVP to paint here.

POTLUCK - BYO place setting (waste free plate, utensils), folding chair recommended

EVENING PROGRAM 6-9PM

Donations make the City Repair VBC events possible. Please Click here for donation information.

6PM Block Party & Potluck style meal, bring food to share! BYO place setting (plate, silverware etc). Food is a combination of potluck contributions and food donations solicited by volunteer neighbors on the planning committee.

6PM musical accompaniment of live singer/songwriter, Joel.

7-8PM VBC Guest speakers from City Repair’s sister organization, PlacemakingUS. View complete details on the VBC schedule website.

8:30PM event end and cleanup begins. RSVP to help clean up here.

9PM road closure ends

(Road closure plan shown further below approved with PBOT Community Events permit 9am-9pm.)

Flyer for 2023 Village Building Converge, window view of buildings, hills, flying boat; sponsor logos on bottom. Focus on placemaking, natural building, permaculture, and community initiatives.

Our June 17 event is a part of the Village Building Convergence program. The Village Building Convergence will take place throughout the City of Portland, OR and surrounding areas the week of June 10-18. All events are by donation and open the public.

View the entire schedule, register, and donate:

Village Building Convergence 2023

June 17 PBOT road closure map 9am-9pm

City map highlighting road closures and detours, with marked no-parking zones and traffic signs.

Creative Process

WORD CLOUD Amaranta's mural design was created in dialog with the local community. Through out spring 2023 in a series of public forums and other processes of soliciting diverse community input, we collected suggestions for themes and ideas that could be represented in the art. That large list of words and phrases was compiled into a "word cloud" (above), or graphic summary of the written input about suggested artistic themes (see attached word cloud image). The word cloud was used by Amaranta to inform her original design for the 36th & Canby space.

THE 36TH AVE & CANBY ST MURAL DESIGN Professional Portland muralist Amaranta Colindres (Website, Instagram) created an original mural design based on the word cloud. The style was inspired by a type of textile art from her son's indigenous lineage of the Kuna Yala people, called Mola. The design will allowed for organic solutions to emerge on the day of painting to address the negative space in between the characters. It also made our use of paint efficient in these areas by cutting it in half, as the concrete shows in the areas not painted.

Word cloud including words related to community, families, local businesses, nature, indigenous origins, and regional landmarks.

Email Update Archive

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Mural Painting Recap
Saturday's MNA Street Art Project mural painting event was a tremendous success with outstanding turnout! Over 100 volunteers turned out to help paint a new mural designed and directed by professional muralist, Amaranta Colindres on the pavement at SW 36the Ave & Canby St--go check it out! Its illuminated under a street lamp at night. See any signs of village life portrayed?
This 12 hour event featured support from about 15 core planning volunteers, dozens of neighbors and community member volunteers, The City Repair Project, and generous support from local businesses including Tastebud's donation of lunch for volunteers.
Attendees mingled with representatives from Mayor Wheeler's office and the offices of county & city commissioners, and transportation. We expect this mural to be enjoyed for a long time to come!
Walk Event With City Repair
The mural painting was the penultimate event in the MNA Street Art Project event series. Please stay tuned this week for updates regarding the final event, the "imagining" walk with MNA and City Repair for the purpose of brainstorming, as a group, new placemaking projects at sites around the neighborhood. Updates to come.
The big mural painting day is Saturday! We're ready to do this and excited to see you there (details below).
Mural Design closeup.png
Mural Design By Amaranta Colindres to be installed at 36th & Canby
The MNA Street Art Project is bringing a new intersection mural to Multnomah Village on Saturday! The inspiration for the design is a type of textile art from professional muralist Amaranta Colindres' son's indigenous lineage of the Kuna Yala people, called Mola.
JUNE 17 ELECTED OFFICIALS
Saturday throughout the day look for representatives from Mayor Wheeler, City & County Commissioners, and Transportation mingling among the neighbors!
DONATE TO MNA (CLICK HERE)
The Multnomah Neighborhood Association (MNA) now has an online donation system through which we can accept electronic donations! The MNA is a newly established 501c3 non-profit organization since February 2023 and your generosity is what makes this new MNA Community Events work possible!
JUNE 17 SEEKING VOLUNTEER PHOTOGRAPHY
We're seeking volunteers to help document the mural painting this Saturday June 17, 10am-6pm. This can be whatever you are able to provide, including simply snapping photos (very helpful!), video or time lapse video of the mural painting from a vantage point, and even aerial drone photography if anyone has access to that equipment. Please reply to this email.
JUNE 17 SEEKING TABLES (SIGNUP HERE)
We are still seeking additional table donations (for food and for people to sit and eat). Anyone who can loan an additional table for the day, the ideal time to drop off at the event site is 8AM, and take it home 8:30PM. (SW 36th Ave & Canby St)
JUNE 17 SEEKING 6PM POTLUCK FOOD (SIGNUP HERE)
If you're wondering where you can help please sign up to bring a dish to share at the potluck after party at 6pm. We'll also have a BBQ on site for grilling.
WE'RE READY TO GO!
We've picked up about $700 donated painting supplies from the Tigard Home Depot (Store #4002, manager Becky Snell) and many gallons of discounted paint and primer from Miller in Beaverton. Lunch donation is approved through Tastebud (thank you!), and we've received generous donations from numerous other local businesses including ComeUnityPDX, Thinker Toys, Village Cheer, JP General, Trader Joes, Level, Starbucks.
VOLUNTEER DRIVEN!
We're proud of what we've been able to achieve so far with the help of City Repair, MNA leadership and about 15 core neighborhood volunteers plus dozens more local volunteers stepping up to make this all possible. From the artist selection process to putting the paint on the ground its been a community based process and we thank you for your participation!
Street Art Project - Mural Event 6.17.23.jpeg
Join us for the closing day of the City Repair Village Building Convergence (VBC) for a free, all ages community building event in which professional mural artist Amaranta Colindres will guide volunteers in painting a mural on the surface of the pavement in the intersection. Afterward, 6-9PM we’ll celebrate with a block party, potluck, and keynote speakers from City Repair’s sister organization, PlacemakingUS, which is linked to the global network of organizations and cultures employing placemaking as a means to build resilient and thriving communities. For event details, schedule, and to RSVP to help click here. Contact: communityevents@mnapdx.org
Our June 17 mural painting event is one week from tomorrow! (details below & here)
FOR JUNE 17 WE NEED YOU TO SIGN UP HERE TO:
Bring potluck style food
Volunteer for clean up
set up the City Repair T-Horse
Please share the link to this sign up sheet with friends and neighbors who may also enjoy participating.
WE ARE ALSO SEEKING
Drone for aerial photography (reply to this email)
Volunteer photographer (reply to this email)
Tables (reply to this email)
Lawn games (reply to this email)
ASL INTERPRETATION DURING JUNE 17 EVENT
A volunteer will provide American sign language (ASL) interpretation from 2-8pm on event day, which includes painting of the mural design 2-6pm and keynote speakers 7-8pm (see full event day schedule at our website).
(click here for QR code link)
SHARE OUR JUNE 17 EVENT FLYER!
Join us for the closing day of the City Repair Village Building Convergence (VBC) for a free, all ages community building event in which professional mural artist Amaranta Colindres will guide volunteers in painting a mural on the surface of the pavement in the intersection. Afterward, 6-9PM we’ll celebrate with a block party, potluck, and keynote speakers from City Repair’s sister organization, PlacemakingUS, which is linked to the global network of organizations and cultures employing placemaking as a means to build resilient and thriving communities. For event details, schedule, and to RSVP to help click here. Contact: communityevents@mnapdx.org
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS JUNE 17, 7-8PM
PlacemakingUS's co-Directors, Madeleine Spencer and Ryan Smolar, will share stories they've seen around the country and the globe of those on the forefront of reclaiming, remaking, and redesigning the ways people urbanize the planet. From friendly neighborhood placemaking nuns to 40-acre environmental justice projects funded by the White House, we will take a windy walk through the wonderful world being reawakened through placemaking.
MURAL PAINT AND PERMITTING
Our paint order is submitted! The PBOT permit for the mural itself is approved! In addition, mailers have been sent via USPS to adjacent neighbors and businesses with June 17 road closure details, notice of community event (attached), and the flyer invitation.

JUNE 17 ROAD CLOSURE
This diagram depicts the PBOT approved sections of road to be closed 9am-9pm for the mural painting event. Beyond the PBOT requirements for signage, we expect to have volunteers helping with traffic control.
VILLAGE BUILDING CONVERGENCE
Our June 17 mural painting event is a participant in City Repair's flagship annual city-wide Village Building Convergence (VBC). VBC events around Portland kick of tomorrow, June 10. Donations to city repair make these VBC events possible.
OTHER MNA STREET ART PROJECT EVENTS
SATURDAY, JUNE 3
Rain Garden Painting Event
June 3 Westside Watershed Resource Center hosted an installment of our MNA Street Art Project event series in which this artwork was created with the intention to raise awareness about stormwater management and watershed health as well as mitigate graffiti. 14 volunteers painted and learned about managing stormwater to protect public health and our environment. We've received a lot of positive feedback about the event and Westside Watersheds reported that volunteers and the event outcome exceeded their expectations!
GET MORE INFO ON THE MNA STREET ART PROJECT
https://www.instagram.com/mnacommunityevents/
MNA Street Art Project (Website)
Amaranta Colindres (Website, Instagram)
Good Morning MNA Street Art Project Volunteers and followers,
SHARE OUR JUNE 17 EVENT FLYER!
Join us for the closing day of the City Repair Village Building Convergence (VBC) for a free, all ages community building event in which professional mural artist Amaranta Colindres will guide volunteers in painting a mural on the surface of the pavement in the intersection. Afterward, 6-9PM we’ll celebrate with a block party, potluck, and keynote speakers from City Repair’s sister organization, PlacemakingUS, which is linked to the global network of organizations and cultures employing placemaking as a means to build resilient and thriving communities. For event details, schedule, and to RSVP to help visit www.mnapdx.org/community-events. Contact: communityevents@mnapdx.org
WE NEED YOU TO SIGN UP HERE!
For a specific time slot June 17 to come
Paint
Bring potluck style food
Set up or clean up
Please share the link to this sign up sheet with friends and neighbors who may also enjoy participating. Share the Facebook event.
THE MURAL DESIGN
Professional Portland muralist Amaranta Colindres (Website, Instagram) has submitted final touches to the street mural design, which will soon be displayed on the a-frame sign next to the SW 36th Ave & Canby St intersection where it is to be installed on the pavement June 17. The inspiration for the design is a type of textile art from her son's indigenous lineage of the Kuna Yala people, called Mola. The design will allow for organic solutions to emerge on the day of painting to address the negative space in between the characters. It also cuts our use of paint in these areas in half, as the concrete will show in the areas not painted. (See attachment for full diagram of mural on street). Our paint order is going in Tuesday.
WORD CLOUD
Amaranta's mural design was created in dialog with the local community. Earlier this spring over a series of public forums and other processes of soliciting diverse community input, we collected suggestions for themes and ideas that could be represented in this art. That large list of words and phrases was compiled into a "word cloud," or graphic summary of the written input about suggested artistic themes (see attached word cloud image). The word cloud was used by Amaranta to inform her design for the 36th & Canby space.
ASL INTERPRETATION DURING JUNE 17 EVENT
We're excited to announce that we're working to provide American sign language (ASL) interpretation during portions of the June 17 event. More details coming soon.
JUNE 17 DONATIONS
We're expecting Home Depot (Tigard store) to donate many of the remaining painting supplies we need. We are still seeking ideas and folks to bring block party activities (e.g., bubble machine, lawn games, children's art supplies, sidewalk chalk, etc). Please reply to this email if you're interested to help with that.
VILLAGE BUILDING CONVERGENCE
Our June 17 mural painting event is a participant in City Repair's flagship annual city-wide Village Building Convergence (VBC). Check out the entire VBC schedule! www.villagebuildingconvergence.com
OTHER MNA STREET ART PROJECT EVENTS
SATURDAY, JUNE 3
Rain Garden Painting Event (9am-11am)
We have filled our available volunteer slots for this event--thank you! Watch out for the new painting of fish and frogs on the rain garden stormwater facility at SW 40th & Multnomah BLVD. More event info on our website.
JULY 2 VISIONING WALK WITH CITY REPAIR (10AM)
We're collecting input on candidate locations to visit on a route for this community walk with City Repair. We'll brainstorm and re-envision some public spaces for future projects.
Know a spot that could use some creative repurposing? Reply to this email! Suggested so far:
"The Nest" sculpture in Spring Garden Park (Community driven work parties? Creative upkeep ideas?)
Install a puzzle exchange kiosk location near SW Spring Garden St & 30th
The intersection of 35th Ave & Falcon St
MNA MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING (PUBLIC)
June 13, 7-8:30PM
The MNA Street Art Project is discussed monthly at public Multnomah Neighborhood Association general meetings. Please join us! Info here.
SHARE OUR JUNE 17 EVENT FLYER!
Please help us share the attached flyer for the mural painting day, the culminating installment of this event series! It is free and open to the public (details below).
RSVP TO HELP JUNE 17!
We have a new June 17 RSVP form for folks to register for specific time slots to help with painting, food, and more! Reply to this email if you'd like help with the form or want us to sign you up for something!
NEW WEBSITE!
Our whole MNA website (www.mnapdx.org) has a new look, including our Community Events Committee page (the home of MNA Street Art Project www.mnapdx.org/community-events). Email your photos from around the neighborhood that we may be able to use to customize the presentation of our web content (to do so reply to this email).
SATURDAY, JUNE 3
Rain Garden Painting Event (9am-11am)
We still need several more volunteers! If interested email manager@westsidewatersheds.org.
City of Portland Environmental Services (BES) will host an installment of our MNA Street Art Project event series in which 8-10 volunteers create a painted artwork using stencils of fish and frogs on the rain garden stormwater facility at SW 40th & Multnomah BLVD. This is intended to raise awareness about stormwater management and watershed health as well as mitigate graffiti. Volunteers will learn about managing stormwater to protect public health and our environment.
SATURDAY, JUNE 17
Street Mural Painting at SW 36th Ave & Canby St (9am-9pm)
All ages please join us to paint an intersection mural on the pavement! Supplies and instructions are provided. Tentative schedule: opening 9am, apply primer 10am-12pm, lunch 12-1pm, paint 2-6pm. Celebrate afterward with City Repair at a block party and keynote Speakers: Ryan Smolar & Madeleine Spencer of PlacemakingUS (www.placemakingus.org). This is a part of City Repair’s flagship annual Village Building Convergence 2023.
AMARANTA COLINDRES (Website, Instagram)
In April our five-person artist selection committee hired Amaranta Colindres to work with us designing and leading the intersection mural!
VILLAGE BUILDING CONVERGENCE
Our June 17 mural painting event is a participant in City Repair's flagship annual Village Building Convergence (VBC). Our event will feature the famous City Repair T-Horse (a pickup truck retrofitted with big wings and serves tea out of the back as a mobile tea party) as well as 7-8pm evening keynote Speakers Ryan Smolar & Madeleine Spencer of PlacemakingUS (www.placemakingus.org).
JUNE 17 PBOT ROAD CLOSURE PLAN
Attached is a map from PBOT showing the location and barricade plan for the road closure 9am-9pm on 6/17. Some signs will be created ourselves. Please reply to this email if you want to help with that.
JUNE 17 NEIGHBOR COMMUNICATION
The attached PBOT notice of road closure for the 6/17 community event is expected to be mailed by 6/2 to residences near the closure area.
JUNE 17 SEEKING DONATIONS
We're seeking the following donations for the June 17 painting event:
WE NEED FOOD! RSVP here TO CONTRIBUTE TO POTLUCK STYLE FOOD. Signup directly at the link.
PAINTBRUSHES. 30 paintbrushes (2.5" or 3-4" size) and 10 small rollers (These will not be returned. Anyone can donate. Reply to this email.)
BLOCK PARTY ACTIVITIES (e.g., bubble machine, lawn games, etc)
JULY 2 VISIONING WALK WITH CITY REPAIR (10AM)
We're collecting input on candidate locations for this community walk with City Repair. The purpose is to brainstorm and re-envisioning some public spaces for future projects.
Know a spot that could use some creative repurposing? Reply to this email! Suggested so far:
-"The Nest" sculpture in Spring Garden Park (Community driven work parties? Creative upkeep ideas?)
-Install a puzzle exchange kiosk location near SW Spring Garden St & 30th
-The intersection of 35th Ave & Falcon St
MNA MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING (PUBLIC)
June 13, 7-8:30PM
The MNA Street Art Project is discussed monthly at public Multnomah Neighborhood Association general meetings. Please join us! Info here.
RECENT EVENTS UPDATES
MAY 15 NEIGHBOR MEETING
On 5/15 intersection neighbors near 36th Ave & Canby and lead volunteers gathered to meet the mural artist, discuss a draft design, June 17 event planning, and a mural maintenance plan. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet folks in person and coordinate (photo attached!).

MURAL MAINTENANCE PLAN
The purpose of intersection murals are to build community and provide public art. They are owned by the community that installs them and at the May 15 event neighbors began detailing the stewardship plan. A mural stewardship committee of 3 neighbors will include 2 neighbors to co-lead the mural maintenance plans, 1 to store paint supplies. This committee is invited to work with the MNA Community Events to request city funds toward touchup paint. Regular maintenance check-ins will occur, the first of which is planned for summer 2024. Touch up "re-painting” events organized by the committee will be fun social gatherings, quicker and less expensive than the initial painting.

UPCOMING EVENTS UPDATES
SATURDAY, JUNE 17
Street Mural Painting at SW 36th Ave & Canby St (9am-9pm)
All ages please join us to paint an intersection mural on the pavement! Supplies and instructions are provided. Tentative schedule: opening 9am, apply primer 10am-12pm, lunch 12-1pm, paint 2-6pm. Live music plans are pending. Celebrate afterward with City Repair at a block party and guest speakers. This is a part of City Repair’s flagship annual Village Building Convergence 2023.
In April our five-person artist selection committee reviewed applications from an open call to mural artists and hired Amaranta Colindres to work with us designing and leading the intersection mural!
JUNE 17 SEEKING DONATIONS
We're seeking the following donations for the June 17 painting event:
30 paintbrushes and 10 rollers (These will not be returned. Anyone can donate. Reply to this email.)
Free lunch for volunteers 12-1pm (we have a volunteer contacting Tastebud, please reply to this email if you have more suggestions)
Donated entrees (from restaurants) for post-painting block party celebration 6-9PM
Use of restroom at nearby business during event
ASL interpreter for portions of the event
JULY 2 VISIONING WALK WITH CITY REPAIR (10AM)
The final event in the MNA Street Art Project event series is a community walk with MNA and City Repair to visit several (2-3) points of interest in the Multnomah neighborhood to brainstorm, as a group, what these spaces could become. Think benches, cob structures, kiosks (e.g., little library, community announcement boards), permaculture, etc.
We're looking for community input on 3 locations of interest that could be included on the walking route. Know a public space that could use some creative repurposing? Reply to this email. We'll also be requesting public input on walking route at the June MNA General meeting 6/13 at 7pm! Join us! (register at mnapdx.org)
MNA MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING (PUBLIC)
June 13, 7-8:30PM
The MNA Street Art Project is also discussed monthly at public Multnomah Neighborhood Association general meetings. Please join us! Hybrid format in person at Riversgate Church lobby or via zoom (register for the next upcoming meeting here). Register for general MNA update listserv about meetings and more here.
DONATIONS
We're seeking the following donations for the June 17 painting event:
30 paintbrushes and 10 rollers (These will not be returned. Anyone can donate. Reply to this email.)
Free lunch for volunteers (we have a volunteer contacting Tastebud, please reply to this email if you have more suggestions)
ASL interpreter for portions of the event
PERMITTING STATUS
Our June 17 PBOT community event permit has been approved and allows road closure at SW 36th & Canby to paint the mural and host a block party afterward. To approve the mural itself, a different PBOT mural permit application will be submitted after receiving our draft design in mid May. A noise variance application is now under review to allow amplified music and announcements by City Repair guest speakers.
ELECTED OFFICIALS
We're drafting letters to invite commissioners Mingus Mapps and Dan Ryan to the June 17 mural painting community event, which is of special relevance to them in their leadership roles with PBOT and Civic Life.

NEIGHBOR COMMUNICATION
Last week 30 of the closest neighbors to the SW 36th Ave & Canby St mural site received an informal letter with overview of the mural project including contact information for a closeby lead neighbor volunteer.
Later in May a different notice regarding the June 17 event road closure details will be mailed via USPS to a larger number of nearby residents
SATURDAY, JUNE 17
Street Mural Painting at SW 36th Ave & Canby St
All ages please join us to paint an intersection mural on the pavement. Supplies and instructions are provided. Tentative schedule: opening 9am, apply primer 10am-12pm, lunch 12-1pm, paint 2-6pm. Live music. Celebrate afterward with City Repair at a block party and guest speakers. This is a part of City Repair’s flagship annual Village Building Convergence 2023.
ANNOUNCING OUR ARTIST!
Our 5 person artist selection committee has carefully reviewed applications from our call to mural artists that closed 4/7 and we are excited to announce that Amaranta Colindres has been selected and will work with us designing and leading the intersection mural at SW 36th Ave & Canby St!
AMARANTA COLINDRES (Website, Instagram)
Amaranta Colindres is a fine artist, mural painter and art teacher, based in Portland, Oregon. She was born in El Salvador and raised in California. Amaranta studied graphic design and fine art formally at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and at CSU East Bay in Hayward, CA. Her work is heavily influenced by her participation in ritual and spiritual teachings of indigenous peoples and her regard for her heritage, which includes Mayan, Caribbean/Nigerian, Spanish, German, and Hungarian ancestry. Her creativity is infused with a deep affinity for the natural world, especially animal life. Amaranta enjoys making custom art for others, including pet and person portraits, landscapes, murals and painted clothing.
She is the Executive Director of the nonprofit Four Directions Art Project, which provides art experiences to those with socioeconomic barriers. Her focus allows people who have experienced trauma to find healing through the art-making process.
Amaranta has a passion for teaching and provides instruction to individuals or groups, both adults and children. She also facilitates collaborative team-building murals for corporate events and live paintings (e.g., LinkedIn, Peete's Coffee, Taste of Oakland, Earth Day San Francisco, First Friday/Art Murmur, and Treasure Island Music Festival, among others).
JUNE 17 PAINTING DAY @ SW 36TH AVE & CANBY ST
All ages plan to join us to paint an intersection mural on the pavement at this site just north of the Multnomah Village business district on a residential street. Celebrate with City Repair at a block party afterward. More info on our website here and follow @MNACommunityEvents (Instagram). Get on our list if you want to paint! (fill out this form).
CITY REPAIR VBC
Our team continues to attend weekly City Repair meetings Thursday evenings to prepare for our participation in the annual summer flagship event, the Village Building Convergence (VBC - city wide program schedule coming soon). Our VBC event is the June 17 mural painting. Email us if you'd like to join us at City Repair Thursday meeting (see schedule).
PERMITTING STATUS
This week our team met on site with Amaranta, the lead of the artist selection committee, and MNA. We have a volunteer team preparing our PBOT mural permit application that will include the draft mural design we receive on or before May 12. Our June 17 community event permit is also in process.
NEIGHBOR COMMUNICATION
Upcoming this week additional communication to residents near the 36th & Canby mural site will be distributed providing a link to our website for June 17 event details and an intersection neighbor primary point of contact.
CALL TO MURAL ARTISTS NOW OPEN!
The MNA Street Art Project is announcing an open call to mural artists. Applications are due by midnight on Friday, April 7, 2023. $1,000 sponsorship funds are available to hire an artist to design a street intersection mural this spring and coordinate the painting of the design with volunteers this summer. For information and TO APPLY CLICK HERE. The due date is approaching, but the application is also brief.
MNA STREET ART PROJECT SCOPE OF WORK
We're working with City Repair to explore with our community ways of fostering thriving, inclusive environments by retrofitting the neighborhood with creative use of public space (e.g., street murals and more. Detail here). We've been working collaboratively using input from the community to define our scope of work. With sponsorship funds from Civic Life, we currently intend for our project through summer 2023 to:
Hire an artist to design and coordinate painting of one street intersection mural, at SW 36th & Canby (pending approval). The painting is a collaborative effort including many volunteers. Tentative painting dates include June 17 and rain delay backup date over the July 1. (General info on PBOT Street Mural Guide).
Explore the possibility of painting a second intersection mural using separately fundraised money beyond the Civic Life sponsorship funds. This could result in two thematically similar intersection murals, one on each side of the village business district in residential but high pedestrian traffic locations.
Explore the possibility to host a community walk and "visioning" event with City Repair. We would tour with residents several points of interest in the neighborhood (e.g., SW 35 Ave & Falcon if the sliplane in closed) and collectively brainstorm the potential for what these spaces could become--for future plans.
Complete City Repair weekly trainings as participants in the 2023 Village Building Convergence. Volunteers are welcome to join us, see schedule.
Host a series of events in our neighborhood for the purpose of community building (e.g., T-Horse) with the intention of also including elected officials and educational components. See our current schedule of events.
ARTIST & DESIGN
A diverse panel will review applications from the call to artist and complete a jurying process to select an artist by mid April. The artist and community members will then engage in collaborative dialog leading to a final design. With that final design a PBOT mural permit will be submitted. Following its approval neighbors adjacent to the proposed mural site will have the opportunity to consent prior to June 17. Find detail on this process in our call to artist and PBOT Street Mural Guide.
GUEST SPEAKER MARK LAKEMAN (CITY REPAIR CO-FOUNDER)
Join us April 11 7PM for our next MNA general meeting, now in hybrid format in person at Riversgate Church Lobby or via zoom. The MNA Community Events Committee has invited guest speaker Mark Lakeman, co-founder of The City Repair Project!
MNA Link to register for meeting via zoom.
TED Talk by Mark Lakeman
VILLAGE BUILDING CONVERGENCE (SUMMER 2023)
The MNA Street Art Project is a participant in the Village Building Convergence (VBC), the flagship City Repair Project annual event with eight days of workshops, placemaking, presenters, and community building throughout the city of Portland. This year VBC doesn’t end there! City Repair is going to let the momentum run through the Summer with a Placemaking Weekend extravaganza! This looks like opportunities to continue collaborating on all kinds of amazing projects across the city, from Food Forests to Natural Building to so many Intersection Repairs! And Oh, so much more! So if Community Building and City Repair are your jam then you are in for a treat! More info on City Repair site here and on City Repair Facebook.
WAYS TO BECOME INVOLVED
Attend City Repair trainings (topics and schedule) Thursday evenings through May--reply to this email if interested.
Attend MNA general meetings (mnapdx.org) 2nd Tuesday evening of the month. Register online.
Share the call to artist link! We're working on a short time frame but we can do it!
Join the MNA Community Events Committee. This is a new standing committee in our neighborhood association formed to handle the Civic Life funds for the MNA Street Art Project. It will also continue on beyond the life of that grant to include a variety of fun things! (Reply to this email).
Attend a weekly Wednesday volunteer meeting. (Reply to this email).
Share our volunteer form with folks who want to follow these updates or volunteer.
FOLLOW US
@MNACommunityEvents (Instagram)

Instagram @MNACommunityEvents

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MNA Street Art Project Event Series Schedule

Rain Garden Stormwater Facility Painting Event 6/3/23, 9-11am

City of Portland Environmental Services (BES) will host an installment of our Street Art making event series in which 8-10 volunteers create a painted artwork using stencils of fish and frogs on the rain garden stormwater facility at SW 40th & Multnomah BLVD near the post office. This is intended to raise awareness about stormwater management and watershed health as well as mitigate graffiti. Volunteers will learn about managing stormwater to protect public health and our environment. If interested in volunteering please contact manager@westsidewatersheds.org
Street Intersection Mural Painting Event 6/17/23, 9am-9pm

Paint an intersection mural on the pavement at this site just north of the Multnomah Village business district.
Community Imagining walk with City Repair DETAILS TBD

Join a community walk with MNA and City Repair where the goal is to visit several points of interest in the Multnomah neighborhood and brainstorm, as a group, the possibilities for creative repurposing. Through 6/13/23 we are requesting suggestions of locations to visit on the walking route. Please email communityevents@mnapdx.org
Open House 3/12/23

All ages join us at Level in the village to hear about the MNA Street Art project event series, meet neighbors, and sign up to volunteer. Level is donating 25% of sales to the MNA Street Art Project.
Neighborhood Tea Party 4/1/23

The City Repair T-Horse is a mobile Tea House that will be hosting a tea party near the basketball courts at the Multnomah Arts Center. Bring potluck style snacks to share! This volunteer driven mobile tea plaza will be serving tea and providing a special place to connect with neighbors, learn more about the MNA Street Art Project, coordinate volunteers, have fun, and congregate after the 9AM-11AM PBOT-hosted “SW Stroll” walk along the newly completed Capitol HWY project.
Open Call to Mural Artists 4/7/2023

The MNA Street Art Project is announces an open call to mural artists. A brief application is due by midnight on Friday, April 7, 2023. $1,000 sponsorship funds are available to hire an artist to design a street intersection mural this spring and coordinate the painting of the design with volunteers this summer. For information and TO APPLY CLICK HERE.