Artists eye blank wall

Business people, officials and artists have a mural in mind

By Christina Lent

The Beaverton Valley Times, May 24, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Jaime Valdez / Times Newspapers

Jeanne Bennett-Schultz, Bonnie Aman and Gina Wilson stand in front of the north facing wall of Ickabod’s Tavern, where they hope to create a neighborhood mural.

ADVERTISEMENTS

Central Beaverton neighbors have a colorful vision that they want to share: a mural that reflects the heart of their community.

For the past several months, Old Town business leaders, the Central Beaverton Neighborhood Association Committee and artists Gina Wilson and Jeanne Bennett-Schultz have worked together to design a mural to grace the north wall of Ickabod’s Tavern.

They are now working with city officials to create a new public art ordinance that would allow them to move forward with their ambitious neighborhood project and pave the way for public murals in Beaverton.

Under the existing Beaverton code, murals fall under a restrictive sign ordinance, requiring the group to apply for a spendy variance.

“There’s a very real chance that their mural wouldn’t meet the criteria,” said Mayor Rob Drake. “Rather than try to bully this project through the variance process, I’ve asked our city attorney to draft an ordinance similar to one in Portland that would change our code and help carry public art in our community to a new plateau.

“Beaverton is maturing, and this would be a positive step forward. I have reason to believe that the council and community would think this is a nice idea.”

Jayne Scott, executive director of the Beaverton Arts Commission, agreed.

“We are delighted and excited about the possibilities,” Scott said. “The commission is committed to making the arts accessible and integrating art into people’s everyday life.

“The arts bring vitality to a community and enrich our lives.”

The commission would welcome a community mural program, Scott said.

The idea for the Central Beaverton mural came from Beaverton Sub Station owner Chuck Wilson, who pitched the idea to his wife Gina, an accomplished abstract artist.

“Charles was tired of looking at the blank wall and asked me if I would paint something there,” Gina Wilson said. “He’s not one to stand around and mull things over.”

He also approached Bonnie Aman, owner of Ickabod’s Tavern, with the idea and proposed it to fellow NAC members as a possible neighborhood project for the city’s matching fund program.

The idea intrigued neighbors.

“The project sounded interesting,” Aman said. “A mural would serve as a reminder that there are more things that happen on this side of the track. It will definitely give people something to talk about.”

Teresa Stride, manager of the U.S. Bank Beaverton Main Branch, said the mural would be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

“It just makes sense,” Stride said. “The mural is going to look really nice.

1 | 2 Next Page >>