Central District artist using mural to bring neighbors together
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SEATTLE -- The people behind a new Central District art installation hope the project will bring together a neighborhood that's been hit hard by crime.
On Thursday, volunteers spent the day painting a new mural before an artist comes in to put on the finishing touches.
Stephanie Tschida of Urban Art Works has lived in the Central District for more than 20 years and wants people to see the mural and think of all the good things the area has to offer.
"Positive energy coming into the neighborhood," she said.
She also knows the scenes often associated with the neighborhood are the flashing police lights and graffiti on buildings.
The mural, which is located at 28th and Jackson, is meant to be a community family tree that shows the roots of the Central District.
Volunteers are helping put together artist Jake Wagoner's vision of a tree branching out with framed family portraits of members of the neighborhood.
"To really help people in the community feel like it's about them, feel like it's for them. For them to enjoy," Wagoner said.
On the other side of the building, volunteers are painting over graffiti.
"It's a beautiful neighborhood and it doesn't take a whole lot, just a little bit of paint and it starts shining again," said volunteer Benj Burke.
Wagoner said he wants the mural to be more than just something to look at.
"The whole point of doing art is to get reactions from people," he said.
As a teen, Wagoner used graffiti as an outlet, but now he's turned his talents into something positive.
"I went down different avenues that most artists that pick up a can of spray paint go down," he said.
When it's finished, the mural will showcase a dozen local families, with their portraits laminated into frames for everyone to see. Wagoner is halfway done with the project and asking for six more photos to be part of the piece.
On Thursday, volunteers spent the day painting a new mural before an artist comes in to put on the finishing touches.
Stephanie Tschida of Urban Art Works has lived in the Central District for more than 20 years and wants people to see the mural and think of all the good things the area has to offer.
"Positive energy coming into the neighborhood," she said.
She also knows the scenes often associated with the neighborhood are the flashing police lights and graffiti on buildings.
The mural, which is located at 28th and Jackson, is meant to be a community family tree that shows the roots of the Central District.
Volunteers are helping put together artist Jake Wagoner's vision of a tree branching out with framed family portraits of members of the neighborhood.
"To really help people in the community feel like it's about them, feel like it's for them. For them to enjoy," Wagoner said.
On the other side of the building, volunteers are painting over graffiti.
"It's a beautiful neighborhood and it doesn't take a whole lot, just a little bit of paint and it starts shining again," said volunteer Benj Burke.
Wagoner said he wants the mural to be more than just something to look at.
"The whole point of doing art is to get reactions from people," he said.
As a teen, Wagoner used graffiti as an outlet, but now he's turned his talents into something positive.
"I went down different avenues that most artists that pick up a can of spray paint go down," he said.
When it's finished, the mural will showcase a dozen local families, with their portraits laminated into frames for everyone to see. Wagoner is halfway done with the project and asking for six more photos to be part of the piece.
Sadly, it'll be tagged up by the end of the week.Â