Columbia Gorge Community College Instructional coordinator, Susan Lewis, organizer-extraordinaire of the CGCC Spring Humanities Series, was inspired by the WE SPEAK mural project to theme this year's series VOICES LESS HEARD. Susan made this table top mini mural for the Wednesday April l8 presentation at the Columbia Center for the Arts. Since the actual mural paintings are on display at 8 venues through the gorge from The Dalles to Hood River and White Salmon, the mini mural is a great representation of what WE SPEAK looks like when displayed hinged together.
Ms. Lewis estimates that between 1000 and 2000 people are seeing the mural: from 10 Speed Coffee Company in Hood River, to Hood River Bagel Company, and Columbia Gorge Community College in Hood River and The Dalles, to the Dalles Art Center, and the Dalles-Wasco Public Library, all the way to White Salmon Valley Community Library, and Skyline Hospital.
here's Charlotte Lewis' beautiful panel at Hood River's 10 Speed Coffee Company looking stunning on a green wall:
Lorenzo Güel's Quetzal end panels are viewed in the White Salmon public library:
Both of these artists are deceased as are mural artists Clayborn Standingelk, Edle Standingelk, but their ideas, creativity, and inspiration lives on through their powerful artwork.
The murals seen in person, have a strong impact: each is accompanied by the artist statement found below, and as reported by one of the college administrators who was at the presentation, the effect of seeing the panels in person was quite profound for both teachers, administrators, and students.
There's one week left to view the murals in the Gorge, so here's hoping you can get there to see them in person and to be inspired to speak your truth at this crucial time in history, when racism, poverty, civil rights, and freedoms continue to be challenging for our society and world. May creativity, peace, and truth prevail.
