Sunflowers Mural in Taylor Electric Building Garage, SE Clay and SE 2nd Ave, Portland, Oregon
I am honored to have this wonderful opportunity to create a mural that celebrates and brings awareness to the Ukrainian culture and community in Portland. This mural will not only serve as a visual representation of my native culture, but also will showcase the strength, resilience, and joy that characterize my people.
The mural is inspired by folk song performance by local Ukrainian community members I saw last winter. In my mural I place the singers dressed in traditional folk costumes in an open field among sunflowers under a bright open sky. The particular sunflower field painted here is from my google street view search of the areas surrounding my home city of Kharkiv in Eastern Ukraine. I followed the route we took almost every summer to go on vacation to a small village in a nearby Sumy region and gathered images of Ukraine as I remember it, before the war and destruction.
This vibrant expression of our culture in its native landscape is meant to evoke feelings of unity, community, and connection to the land, while also highlighting the Ukrainian tradition of colorful folk costumes and beautiful songs. The sunflowers, which are a symbol of Ukraine, represent the Ukrainian community’s connection to their homeland.
The mural is located in a popular street art destination, the Taylor Electric Building, which serves as a venue for many events and festivals in Portland. It will give maximum visibility to the mural. I believe that this location will allow the mural to be seen by many people and will make it a destination for those interested in street art and cultural representation.
Putting finishing touches and painting embroidery on traditional Ukrainian vyshyvanka shirts.
Image credit: Pam Good.
As an artist, I am committed to making artwork that tells stories, creates meaningful connections and fosters a sense of community. This mural is an opportunity for me to bring attention to Ukrainian culture in the Pacific Northwest, and I am excited to complete another project with the Portland Street Art Alliance that has been a major force behind supporting local muralists and bringing exciting street artists from around the world to Portland.
If you're interested, I am considering offering prints of the mural image. If this is something you would be interested in, please let me know in the comments below!
Thank you for your support and I can't wait to see you all at the mural.
🌻🇺🇦🌻🇺🇦🌻🇺🇦🌻🇺🇦🌻
Sincerely,
Tatyana
Ukrainian mural artist in Portland Oregon
Images courtesy of Portland Street Art Alliance. 2023