Idle Hands Collective of Muralists Bring Life to a Street Shut Down by Coronavirus
Since mid-March, Oregon businesses have remained shuttered to comply with the coronavirus response executive order, leaving many streets boarded up and tagged with graffiti.
In response, local business Idle Hands Collective took the initiative to recruit a group of muralists to beautify businesses in Portland’s Foster-Powell neighborhood with positive messages and vivid imagery.
Included in Idle Hands’ efforts was Hemp Bar, the future home of East Fork Cultivars’ retail hemp store and new office space.
Below is an excerpt from The Oregonian article highlighting the project:
Travis Wheeler and Amanda Dennison run Idle Hands Collective, a shop on Foster Road that specializes in local art and handmade jewelry.
“When the lockdown happened,” Wheeler said, “we were hearing about smashed windows and decided to board ours up to prevent an additional expense that could very well put us out of business for good.”
“This decision did not come lightly,” he added, “as it was quickly very scary and desolate on Foster.”
But Wheeler is also a sign painter and muralist and he had an idea: Why not paint encouraging messages on the boards and transform the distressing scene into art?
First, Wheeler painted the boards at Idle Hands. That first mural transformed the plywood into stylized sign reading, “Keep your heads up, and your hands clean.”
People liked what they saw.
“I did a couple more,” Wheeler said, “and decided to get other artists we work with involved.”
No one is getting paid for their time or work, he said. They are just making art to brighten up the street for the joy of what they are doing.
Shortly after Wheeler painted his own boards, a friend asked if he’d be willing to decorate the outside of a whole building that is being renovated on the street.
Since then, the project has grown to include 15 artists and five businesses, including Idle Hands Collective, Cowlick Barbershop, Starday Tavern and Hemp Bar. And Wheeler said the list is growing.
Read more on The Oregonian and Pamplin Media.
