SEATTLE MURAL GALLERY:
A nasty virus inspires a shit ton of great art.
BLACK LIVES MATTER
The following murals, artwork and graffiti that adorned the streets of Seattle in recent months mark a significant moment in history. It’s time for the world to stop and listen. George Floyd’s death has ignited a movement to address the social injustice and police brutality that has been aimed at the black community for centuries.
If you’ve emerged from the safety of your home recently, you likely noticed the hundreds of murals that popped up to line the streets when you weren’t looking. It’s both daunting and reassuring when you realize the enormity of work behind each mural.
While the rest of us binged on Netflix to cope with the insanity that was unfolding, hundreds of local artists found the courage to share their frustrations and inspire hope through art.
Sadly, many of these murals are likely to be removed in the coming weeks, as Seattle moves forward in“reopening”, which is why we launched this website to preserve this historic catalog of art and honor the artists responsible.
As murals come down, we are hopeful the art can find a new home on the streets of Seattle. Because, this art isn’t just a welcome addition to our neighborhood landscape, each work of art is a sharp reminder that we aren’t out of the woods, yet…
Have photos of murals to share?
Send them our way so we can showcase them here!
About the Mural Gallery
WITH OUR GRATITUDE
Special thanks the City of Seattle’s Office of Arts & Culture for their ongoing, annual support that helps us to do what we do on behalf of local artists and to 4N & Associates — a longtime Capitol Hill business and friendly neighbor — for bankrolling the street art documentation project that would become the COVID-19 Mural Gallery you see here.
Through their generous support, One Reel was able to scour the city for COVID-19 related murals to share with you.
Happily, 4N & Associates civic-minded generosity was not limited to One Reel. In the wake of COVID-19, they helped underwrite some of the most powerful murals you are likely to find within the Capitol Hill gallery.
Supporting local artists when they needed it most, is what it’s all about!
The photos you find here reflect the work of hundreds of local artist who deserve recognition for each and every mural that was installed while we were on a state-imposed “staycation”.
One Reel spent the past month working to preserve the artistry that is currently on display throughout the streets of Seattle to share with you via ART SAVES ME – because we feel this work remains as relevant today, as it was on the day it was completed.
Which is why One Reel wanted to preserve a comprehensive collection of images to capture the historic, time-relevant local art inspired by a worldwide pandemic and provide these artists with ongoing recognition for their contributions, when faced with COVID-19. Unfortunately, many of the murals you find here are likely to have been removed in order to make way for Seattle to get back to work.
And as new murals are added to Seattle’s landscape, we are committed to updating the information on this site, in order to continue documenting this historic collection. Artist who wish to share information with us are invited to do so and we ask everyone to share their photos of new murals that will soon appear in the coming weeks. Because as long as we continue to live with uncertainty, surrounding COVID-19, there will be artists poised to create art that reflects the collective chaos that resonates in our community.
If you like what you see, please come back again, as this collection is certain to grow. And if you are in a position to consider making a donation, we hope you will. Because we intend to fund additional murals from local artists through your contributions.
Meet the Photographer, Kelly O
A beloved figure in the local arts community and patron saint to local musicians, Kelly has been documenting the antics of Seattle’s most celebrated celebs, as well as the not so famous, for 20+ years.
Kelly jumped at the chance to capture and document the important work created by hundreds of local artist in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her mission was to create a photographic record of all the murals she could find, in order to preserve this work for Seattle’s historical arts archive.
More importantly, as the murals come down, her collected photographs will insure the images remain a focal point for residents who struggle to make sense of it all.
Donation Station
Please consider donating to Art Saves Me! Below outlines who your donation benefits!
August 1 - 31, 2020
100% of all donations made will go to the local Black Lives Matter — Seattle.
September 1 - 30, 2020
One Reel is working with Paint 2 Change to distribute 100% of all donations to local mural artists, though art supplies and artist fees.
