Paonia Street Mural Draws Cultural Clash Controversy

Paonia’s, Fourth Street mural design.

Paonia Street Mural Draws Cultural Clash Controversy

Paonia Town Council

July 14, 2015

All council members present.

After some considerable discussion it was decided that a resolution adopting a policy for commercial Use of Town Park will be considered at the July 28 Council meeting. Trustee Dave Bradford of the (Services and Recreation Committee) assured the council and audience that the draft policy and resolution was very, very close to what Town Manager Jane Berry has prepared and presented at the first June meeting. That policy set forth a fee schedule for commercial use of the park along with basic rules and an application.

There continued to be some concern among community members about the draft policy and it was requested that the resolution containing the final draft of the policy be made available prior to the July 28 meeting so that the public could adequately review it and then be able to make informed comments on the content.

The discussion included a rather tense exchange between Manager Berry and Trustee Suzanne Watson who, not being fully informed, was concerned that the Town was including the Teen Center at the Town Park in the policy without working with the Teen Center board. Berry informed Watson that the board had been contacted and the Town was working closely with and encouraging them. Currently, Berry said, the Teen Center board prohibits commercial use of the building and the Town will respect that.

Street Mural Draws Cultural Clash Controversy

It seems a simple thing. Some teachers, kids and community arts want to paint an abstract picture on the pavement in front of the elementary school on Fourth Street. And while they are at it they would like use the project as a vehicle to have the neighbors get involved and get to know one another. And they were willing to pay for liability insurance. You would think that the community would support such a positive art and community building project and most do, but not all.

Sue Strong, a neighbor, said she was against the project being in the street and suggested that the painting be done in the school parking lot; something that in the view of the organizers would derail the whole point of the project. She also didn’t like the final design.

Constantine Hirschfield, who lives three blocks away, thought the “murial”(sic) design was “ugly” and shouldn’t be allowed in the street. He also opined that the Village Building Convergence inspired first Paonia project, an art wall at Elsewhere Studios, should “come down” as not meeting the fence code. It was approved by the Town when built.

Another lady, also not a neighbor, opined that the mural would be a traffic hazard. One reason for the project is to improve safety at the school. Jurisdictions in the northwest, like Portland and Seattle, support the in-street murals as marginal traffic calming devices in residential neighborhoods.

Several people spoke in favor of the project including Mayor Neal Schwieterman.

The mural group gave an extensive presentation fully explaining the project in detail. Prior to the presentation Trustee Watson went on at length about information she had obtained from the City of Portland and seemed to be advocating for a Portland level of policy regarding future street painting. Some tension ensued before Watson had fully finished relating her extensive thoughts on the matter.

Supporting the project are the Paonia Elementary School, Chamber of Commerce, The Learning Council, the North Fork Creative Coalition and the Village Building Core Group. They hope to complete the project by mid-August contingent upon the Council approving the project at their July28th meeting.