A mural in West Seattle celebrates the history of a welcoming community

In just a matter of a few days in October, the underpass of the West Seattle Bridge at SW Avalon Way was transformed from a drab, grey wall into a vibrantly colorful mural that celebrates the rich history of Seattle as a welcoming community for refugees.  

The mural, commissioned by USA for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is the result of a collaboration with Artolution, an arts non-profit that trains teams of local teaching artists and facilitates educational arts programming, Urban Artworks, a local Seattle organization that engages youth, artists and communities in the creation of public art that inspires connections and honors their voices and the Office of Mayor Bruce Harrell. 

After securing the site of the mural, thanks to the generosity of the Mayor’s office, Artolution’s co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Dr. Max Frieder, coordinated with Urban Artworks to find local muralists to execute the design and engage local kids and neighbors to pitch in, paint, and bring their ideas of what a welcoming community means to them and bring it to life on the wall.

“One of the magical things about public art is that it becomes a public artifact,” shares Max. “It becomes something that lives in the community and changes the way that we see ourselves, the world, and it really can create a community of care.”

The mural includes symbols of families, with parents embracing children, and the iconic Seattle skyline, and also celebrates the Indigenous people who first lived in the region, the diverse environment and wildlife of Washington state. There’s even a portrait of a neighbor's dog whose daily walk takes him past the mural every morning.

For Nahom Ghirmay, a local Seattle artist and immigrant from Eritrea who worked as a teaching artist on the mural, public art opens doors for people to interact with art in an accessible way. “Public art is very democratic,” says Nahom. “What draws me to public art is that it gives access to people who wouldn't otherwise have the luxury to go to galleries or museums.”

Joclyn Oats, a Seattle-based artist and lead teaching artist on the mural project, jumped at the opportunity to work with Artolution, citing a deep empathy for people who have been forcibly displaced. While not a refugee herself, Joclyn shares her passion for this project is rooted in her personal history of starting over in new communities around the country many times. “I've learned that your home can be wherever people you connect to are and wherever the art is for me as an artist.”

Suzanne Ehlers, Executive Director and CEO of USA for UNHCR, who attended the public unveiling of the mural on October 22, says, “This mural shines as a powerful symbol of how public spaces can celebrate what all members of our community bring to enriching our neighborhoods, including refugees. Seattle has a long history of standing with refugees, and I’m excited to see a once blank wall transformed into a colorful message of hope and welcome.”

The Seattle mural project is just one of dozens that Artolution helps bring to life worldwide. Much of the organization’s work is international, identifying, training and supporting local teaching artists in refugee and forcibly displaced communities to facilitate collaborative and educational arts programming that seeks long-term positive social impact. They have programs in Jordan, Colombia, Bangladesh, Uganda and Ukraine.

“Working with Joclyn and Nahom has been such a total gift and they have both made a huge effort to work with the youth,” shares Max. “One of the coolest parts of this project was when we showcased photos of all the different communities Artolution worked with in about 35 countries around the world, and the participating youth said, ‘Okay, we're part of something bigger than ourselves.’ Then it's not just about this mural; it's our voice representing Seattle to the globe."

"Seattle is this remarkable, welcoming type of a city,” continues Max. “We wanted to show it as an example of what it's like to welcome refugees and immigrants into a city and showcase it as a role model to the world and across the U.S.”

How can you help...

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, supports the full journey of refugees who have been forced to flee violence, war and persecution. Our donors help refugees in their greatest time of need with shelter, food, water and medical care, and their support builds awareness for resettled refugees living in the U.S. With your help, more refugees will have the opportunity to build peaceful lives and give their families a bright future.