This was a very heartfelt little painting I did for a concept titled “Going all City” for a PNW brewery, beer label contest. Although it didn’t make the cut, I’ve always wanted to share the story behind the paint, even though it’s a very simple design. And it probably was waaay different than what was expected.
For me, the theme “Going all City” really hit home at the time the opportunity was given to me to enter this contest, conceptually; based on the hurt and change, all around me within my city.
So in response, I chose 7 silhouettes that I saw within my community both growing up, and until now. Some of them are no longer, and now live as just distant memories. And then I combined all of them, almost in a frustrating fashion…replicating what I’ve seen and now see, while moving around, all throughout my city. Those images are, in no particular order:
1) A child riding a bike in the street.
2) Pears. The state fruit ( also, We used to raid the neighbor’s pear trees for their pears, growing up as kids lol! Great times, great memories 🤦🏽😭)
3) Salmon. They used to be in every river and creek.😔
4) The golden man. Our state capitol. You can see him standing tall, from all around town.
5) An old growth tree. These life forms used to stand tall, watching upon, and protecting this land for centuries. But are no longer.
6) A homeless man drinking a coffee on the street to keep warm. It’s currently an era of hardship for many, sadly.
7) The “fentanyl fold”. Such a horrific sight that is abound, everywhere…as it destroys the life’s of the community.
This painting was very painful to paint, simplistic, but also super necessary for me to paint at the time. I’d love this to be an actual mural one day. Also, thank you to
@mayfair_pdx for the opportunity, and a big thank you to
@giganticbrewing for hosting this event over the summer. Thanks for looking. 😀
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. #art #color #salem #oregon #memories #community #pain #growth #sadness #city #life #change #beauty #pnw #beautifuldistortion #aksesone #2025
