A City Mural that Springs From the Heart
Images from different artists capture the essence of Seattle and tell a story as well.
I can feel my heart beating faster even though I’m striding downhill on a morning walk. I’m on the way to an inner city lake path, but first, I must venture through an underpass with a busy highway roaring above.
I cross my fingers, hoping the stunning murals I stopped to admire the day before haven’t been tagged by gangs or graffiti artists. I catch sight of the first panel, and my feelings gain altitude and soar. It’s still intact!
It’s a gray day with heavy metal rain clouds threatening a downpour any minute, but I’m focused on the harbingers of spring I see before me. The frog whose home is in the lake right around the corner. Sun shining down on the Emerald City. Blue hands forming a heart in salute to the light.
I cross the street with a grin. The queen of cheap thrills receives her first dose of the day. I pause to absorb the vibrant burst of colors and artistic passion greeting my arrival. Welcome to the underpass, it declares, an unexpected place to find such beauty. Please move forward. There is more.
The Princess of Peace ushers me into a state of awe. As I stand before her, my eyes begin to tear up with a sense of fulfillment. I lecture myself in a feeble attempt to stem the flow. “You’re becoming a total sap woman. Get a grip!” It doesn't work.
Look at her face. Have you seen a more peaceful countenance as she soars through the sky in a state of complete bliss? Hands elegantly held by her side as she trusts the wind to keep her aloft.
Seattle is a Pacific Rim city connected to Asia through the mighty Pacific Ocean. There are many Asian immigrants in the state, both historically and presently. A few Japanese elders still remember a time of extreme duress.
The Japanese population in Seattle and the surrounding area was close to 7,000 people during World War II. On March 30th, 1942, the Japanese American population on nearby Bainbridge Island was the first group in the nation to be forcibly evacuated from their homes.
Established families had been living in America for several generations. Their homes were ruthlessly invaded, and these American citizens were shipped off to internment camps located in an inhospitable and isolated territory in mid-America.
On April 21st, 1942, evacuation notices were posted publicly throughout the city of Seattle as the purge of the Japanese population continued onward. They were given no assurance their property would remain intact and returned to the legal and rightful owners once the war had ended.
Their farmland and personal properties ended up being taken over by opportunistic neighbors with no possibility of reclamation. The travesties continued after World War II ended, and they returned home to a place where no one would hire them, and their previous assets proved nonexistent.
The Princess of Peace symbolizes a young woman rising above and beyond racist reactions and the fear-laden history of her ancestor’s past. She demonstrates an elevation in consciousness.
Perhaps a healing of deep wounds can be resolved after all. Her demeanor and magical flight offer an option. Reach for your high bar, then reach again. You’ll eventually stumble upon the peace you seek.
The Pacific Northwest is full of ardent whale watchers. Gray, minke, humpback, and two types of orca whales frequent the waters of Puget Sound, especially in the summer months.
They move through the Salish Sea and pass by the Strait of Juan de Fuca islands, where I now live full time. It’s not uncommon to hear a ferry captain on the intercom directing passengers to a whale sighting close by.
The boat was loaded with tourists last summer when the captain came on and let us know there was a pod of orcas to the west. Everyone on board rushed to the windows, causing the enormous ferry to tilt slightly as the herd stampeded.
The captain came back on and said, “Hang on there, passengers; I didn’t mean all of you at once!” Adults lit up, and kids jumped up and down with glee when all onboard caught sight of the pod.
Strangers were smiling at one another and sharing stories about their personal whale sightings. Whales have an unusual ability to rapidly activate human joy. If you ever have the opportunity to look into a whale’s eye, you will encounter a highly intelligent being.
The ferry ride was a uniting and uplifting experience. A connection with nature had been woven through a diverse crowd. That’s the result of magical creatures at play.
I stand in front of the final panel and give it a double thumbs up. This statement is why Seattle is still considered a progressive city. A bit on the eccentric side myself, I can easily find other out-of-the-mold characters in any situation.
One of them came running along the sidewalk just as I was lavishing praise on the murals. A sparkly young man who stopped in his tracks when I turned and gave him a smile.
“Um, excuse me. Are you the woman I saw talking to birds at the lake yesterday?”
“Yep, that’s me. There are three blue herons who hide out along the shore, and I know their secret spots. I admire how they stand still as statues before they suddenly take flight. They’re ancient birds and remind me of dinosaurs.”
“I heard you imitating an eagle. You’re good at that! I thought your call was really an eagle. That’s how I spotted you. I was trying to find where it was. Are you an ornithologist?”
“Nope, just a slightly crazed, ordinary bird lover. How about you?”
“I’m a tech nerd who stares at a computer screen all day. When I’m in danger of losing the few brains I have left, I go for a run to recharge. Great mural, hey. It gives me a lift every time I pass through here. It’s a miracle it hasn’t been tagged yet. Nice to meet you, bird woman. See you later.”
Everyone is different. Everyone belongs, indeed.
The tempo and flavor of Seattle have changed considerably with the massive influx of tech workers in the past decade. A liberal atmosphere remains, however, and differences are highly tolerated in general. People tend to embrace a live-and-let-live attitude about personal choices.
The population pendulum swings widely from billionaires to the homeless, but most folks are restrained in their judgment of another’s lifestyle.
No matter where I’ve traveled, my heart has always sent me back to the Pacific Northwest, and with good reason. There’s a strong appreciation for the natural world among the locals, and it’s visible in these murals.
When it’s a clear day, and Mt. Rainier unveils her glory, she can stop people on the street who stare in awe at her grandeur. That would be me.
These stunning paintings remain somewhat of a mystery. Other murals have decorated this highly trafficked area, and all of them have been tagged and defaced. This work of art has remained pristine.
I’m returning to the city next week, and one of the first things I will do is get my running shoes laced up and head down to the lake. I’ll be hoping every step of the way that I will find this enticing display untouched and respected for the labor of love it is.
Art has the power to move us into altered states. This beautifully crafted wall shape shifted the dark underpass into a visual treat and an invitation to pause for a moment of contemplation.
Take the opportunity when provided and allow the small acts of grace that don our daily paths to sink into your spirit. This mural and burst of life force is now one of mine.
Thank you for reading my story.