BRINGING BOOKS TO LIFE
KALAMA, WASHINGTON
“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.” - Mason Cooley
Work has begun on a new public mural by professional artist Tatyana Ostapenko in Kalama, Washington. The mural was designed to represent and highlight some of the magical wonders and fantastical journeys that await those who explore the books found inside the Kalama Public Library.
Kalama Washington is located 40 miles north of Portland, Oregon. With a population of nearly 3,000, Kalama offers small town values and charm. Envision Kalama is a non-profit organization in Kalama that supports projects that enhance the community, beautify the town, and provide educational experiences. Envision Kalama was founded in 2007 by a group of citizens who wanted community members to contribute to enhancing Kalama for now and for the future.
Artist rendering of proposed mural
In 2019, Envision Kalama contacted the Portland-based non-profit Portland Street Art Alliance (PSAA) asking for assistance in facilitating the commissioning of a regional artists for mural projects in Kalama. PSAA presented an overview of their mural program, process, and past projects to Envision Kalama in the Winter of 2020. Working closely with the project team, PSAA created a large roster of regional artists recommended for a mural project of this scale and nature. Several bids were collected from considered artists, with Portland-based Ukrainian muralist Tatyana Ostapenko being selected by Envision Kalama. The project team worked collaboratively in developing the design and is now working to coordinate mural planning and preparation activities.
PSAA Executive Director Tiffany Conklin explains that “the quality of our shared public spaces speaks volumes about what we, as a society, believe to be important. Public art projects like murals not only bring more cultural vibrancy and interest to a place, but they also help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience art in their everyday lives.”
Mural work started Monday August 2 and will continue for about a week or so. Press is invited to sign-up for receiving updates about the mural painting timeline and opportunities for interviews with artist Tatyana Ostapenko and project partners.
Tatyana Ostapenko (Artist), a contemporary visual artist that creates history paintings that record the daily lives of people who usually don’t make it into official historical records. Tatyana uses images from her native Ukraine to speak about universal human experiences and evoke empathy and hope in the face of adversity. Tatyana was born and raised in Soviet Ukraine and currently lives in Portland, OR. She holds a BFA in Studio Practice from Portland State University. When she is not painting or staring out of her studio window, Tatyana is picking chanterelles in the mossy woods of the Pacific Northwest. Learn more about Tatyana, and see her paintings at https://tatyanaostapenko.com/
Portland Street Art Alliance (PSAA), a non-profit organization and network of advocates and artists who manage public art projects in the Pacific Northwest. PSAA has completed over 100 public and private art projects and commissions since 2012. This mural will be the third mural project PSAA has managed in Washington, and the first in the City of Kalama. More information: www.pdxstreetart.org
Envision Kalama, a non-profit organization in Kalama that supports projects that enhance the community, beautify the town, and provide educational experiences.
Sponsors: Envision Kalama, Kalama Public Library, Miller Paint