PORTLAND STREET ART ALLIANCE

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Portland Street Art Alliance is fundraising
Help Maintain Portland's Historic Banana Mural
Help Restore & Maintain Portland’s Iconic Art Fills the Void "Banana Mural"

The Art Fills the Void (aka "Banana Mural") on SE Division & 12th Ave is Portland's second-oldest mural, originally painted in 1982 by a group of guerrilla sign painters known as Guerilla Wallflare. Since its creation, the mural has become a beloved piece of Portland’s public art scene, but it has also faced years of wear and tear. Sadly, many of the original artists have passed away or retired.

In 2015, the Portland Street Art Alliance (PSAA) received a small $2K grant from SE Uplift to help restore the mural, address its fading colors, and apply a protective clear coat. However, after that initial restoration, support for maintaining this historic artwork has been minimal at best. While the City of Portland did help with a few pressure washings years ago, that assistance has since dried up.

For almost a decade, PSAA has been providing maintenance on this mural — donating both labor and supplies — but this is no longer sustainable for a small nonprofit. Despite multiple requests for help from the City of Portland, the neighborhood association, and property owners, no one has stepped forward to contribute to the upkeep of this important piece of Portland's public art heritage.

Now, PSAA is turning to the community for support.

How You Can Help:

Maintaining this mural costs approximately $1,000 per year. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will go directly toward preserving this iconic piece of Portland history. Your contribution will help ensure that the Art Fills the Void mural remains a vibrant part of our city's cultural landscape for years to come.

More Information: To learn more about the mural’s history and restoration efforts, visit the PSAA website.

At PSAA, we believe it's essential to preserve Portland's oldest murals so they can continue to inspire future generations. Your support is critical in making that happen.

Please consider donating today. Together, we can ensure this piece of public art lives on!

Original Photo of the Mural after it was painted in 1982:

Before Restoration in 2015:

After PSAA Restoration in 2015:
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28 supporters
Portland Street Art Alliance is fundraising
RABBITT Memorial Mural Fundraiser

Completed Mural at NE Broadway & 24th, Designed and Painted by Hayden Senter

Pedalpalooza & Portland Street Art Alliance partnered to paint a memorial mural for our dearly departed friend Rabbitt (aka Railroad Rabbitt), who boarded the last train home on June 26, 2022.

Described by Bike Portland as a “giant of Portland’s bike scene” Rabbitt was a pioneer in PDX bike culture (Zoo Bomb, Chariot Wars, Pedalpalooza, Dead Baby bikes, etc.). Rabbitt was a fearless, skilled rider. You’d see him flying effortlessly through the city, like a bird perched atop his tall bike. Rabbitt helped make “Portland Weird.”

Rabbitt was a lifelong rail rider. He had the wildest tails from his adventures. Sometimes he’d still hop trains. His classic rabbit ear moniker graced many. He was an excellent photographer, especially of train engines. Rabbitt loved cruising his motorcycle along the tracks, camping, being in nature, collecting flowers for friends, and excavating marbles from a rail spill.

Rabbitt started working with Portland Street Art Alliance 2018. In desperate need of a quick hired hand to help prep walls at Taylor Electric, he spent 2 weeks removing soot, peeling paint, laying down the base coat. He slept in his truck, starting early to beat the heat. Rabbitt proudly claimed he had the largest piece at Taylor. He also painted a beautiful garage pillar. He hung around, got to know the artists, and was on the Block Party security team. Even at the most stressful times, he’d crack the best jokes. “It’s coming together like buttcheeks kids!” And it certainly was.

Rabbitt also painted murals at the Oak St Building (2nd & Oak), Alberta & 14th, and Salt & Straw's Production Kitchen. He’d bring the artists clown noses. Any paint we didn’t need, we donated to Rabbitt. He was always eager to help. He was excited and proud to be a part of the street art community.

Rabbitt meant a lot to so many communities. He appeared to some as rough on the outside, but on the inside, was the gentlest soul. Rabbitt dove into life head first, wild, free, without fear. He lived an adventurous life, one most of us will only dream of.

A one of a kind. A clown. A biker. A rail hopper. A carpenter. An artist. A genuine soul. His legacy will continue to inspire and shine on. Rest easy Rabbitt.

Pedalpalooza & Portland Street Art Alliance have teamed up along with a group of Rabbitt's friends. We are looking to the community to help us raise money to pay for mural supplies, a lift, a lead design artist, and a painting team to create a large-scale mural in honor of Rabbitt.

We have secured a mural location on the side of Broadway Vet (2315 NE Broadway)! Local Portland-based Muralist, Hayden Senter (@chairboy_) has designed a beautiful memorial for Rabbitt with the help of some of his closest friends. The mural features Rabbitt and a few of his favorite things, trains, bikes, wildflowers, feathers, etc. In the background, Rabbitt's geometric artwork is featured.

Thank you all for your generous donations to the Rabbitt Memorial Mural Fundraiser. Any additional donations received will be put towards ongoing maintenance (pressure washing and re-clear coating as needed). If we raise funding to the 10K goal, we can expand the mural to the nearby walls in the parking lot as well.

We're unveiling the mural on Aug 30th at 6:15pm. Meet us there or join the Pedalpalooza Ride leaving from 1650 SE 3rd Ave (Taylor Electric Garage) at 5:30pm to ride with friends of Rabbitt to the mural.

Find out more information about the ride here: https://www.shift2bikes.org/calendar/event-17765

More information about PEDALPALOOZA: Pedalpalooza is an annual festival Portland, Oregon. During the festival, there are hundreds of volunteer-organized free bike events. Rabbitt was one of the founding members of Pedalpalooza.

More information about PORTLAND STREET ART ALLIANCE: Portland Street Art Alliance (PSAA) engages the public by facilitating and creating vibrant street art, documenting and promoting the history and importance of creative interventions in the city, and providing educational forums for community-building and exchange. PSAA cultivates a more informed and democratic culture of artistic expression by activating public spaces and broadening perspectives to build a more engaged, diverse, and playful city.
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38 supporters

About PORTLAND STREET ART ALLIANCE

Portland Street Art Alliance provides access to resources, networking platforms, and professional development opportunities for Pacific Northwest street artists. Since our founding in 2012, PSAA has facilitated commissioned work resulting in over $950,000 paid to working artists and managed over 200 private and publicly-funded street art projects, collaborating with hundreds of artists in the region. PSAA serves hundreds of community members each year through educational programming, tours, and community events. PSAA is actively transforming the public art landscape by developing more inclusive place-based programs which aim to increase access to art for everyone in the city.

6232 SE Division StPortland, OR 97206

Find PORTLAND STREET ART ALLIANCE at

Causes

Arts services, Public arts, Painting, Community beautification, Community organizing, Visual arts

Established

2016

Tax ID

81-3371890

NTEE code

Visual Arts Organizations

PORTLAND STREET ART ALLIANCE is a 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 81-3371890. Donations are tax-deductible. Select content is provided by GuideStar.

Recent Donations

Lynn Greenwood donated to Help Maintain Portland's Historic Banana Mural
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Brian Willett donated to Help Maintain Portland's Historic Banana Mural
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