Artist: Douglas C. Orr
A Walk in the Park (outdoor)
Location: Overpass, State and I Street
The State Street off-ramp of the Chehalis River Bridge provides a unique bucolic space, which mimics the form of a Gothic bridge in New York’s Central Park which frames the mural. The trompe l’oeil scene draws viewers from main thoroughfares of downtown to enjoy the respite of a park-like scene in an unlikely place.
Artist’s statement:
The ramp to the Chehalis River Bridge from State Street at the end of I Street drew me in as a perfect spot for a mural. It was a blank wall at the end of I street that just called out for a mural. I originally designed three murals for the location and posted them on social media and asked people to vote for the one they liked best. Walk in the Park won out by a long shot.
The inspiration for the arches came from a whimsical bridge located in Central Park in New York City. The fence around the mural was added by the WASDOT to keep homeless from camping under the ramp while I was in negotiations with them to put a mural there. The juxtaposition of the inviting park with a KEEP-OUT sign on the wall and a big fence was humorous to me and I wonder if anyone else ever notices it. There were a bunch of comments that someone might try and drive through the arch. It was also funny because if they thought it was a pass-through, then they'd still have to wait for the lady walking her dog to get out of the way. Long wait indeed.
Sponsors:
Community funded by Laurie and Tony Airhart
Dennis and Mary Lou Gregory
Kristopher Koski
Karin and Paul Larson
Tim Quigg
Judith Stull
Susan and James Wynans
Facilitated by Our Aberdeen
Other murals by this artist:
Bubbles (outdoor)
Hands and History (outdoor)