Tacoma Murals Part 1: Fading Histories
- By At Home in Tacoma
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- 03 Jan, 2019
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Ever since people have had the ability to paint, and a surface on which to apply that paint, they have surrounded themselves with art. It was only a matter of time before paintings began finding themselves on the walls of public buildings, which happened almost immediately. Murals date back thousands of years, with artists and communities collaborating to document history, tell stories, and generally lend some beauty to cities' landscapes, which too frequently favor function over form. Murals have served as essential tools for revolutions, paid tribute to fallen heroes, and commemorated momentous passages in time.
We're lucky, in Tacoma, to have had a healthy history of people caring enough about their city to put paint to brick and leave their mark for generations to see. Tacoma's decorated with so many gorgeous murals, frequently taking advantage of the natural beauty to be found in our little neck of the woods, from the vibrant wildlife to the stunning vistas. On a stroll through any given part of town, you're likely to get a look at any number walls that have been turned into works of captivating art. These little touches lend so much nuance to Tacoma, and we love the way they pepper our home with pops of color.
Sad as it is to say, though, our murals – by their nature – are left exposed to the elements, surviving season after season of Pacific Northwest rain and the occasional spots of sun. Tacoma's has several murals that are gradually fading away, having endured years of weather and a changing city growing up around their feet. Like an old oak tree, a mural's age is easily identifiable – cracks beginning to show, colors disappearing back into the surface, leaving behind a ghostly image that will eventually vanish completely. Some murals are tended to, from time to time, getting the occasional restoration, but these are big projects that aren't always easy for the city to prioritize.
As more and more people and money flood into Tacoma, the landscape is quickly changing. The Hilltop neighborhood that Canada, Russell, Taylor, and Brazill dedicated themselves to fostering is transforming into something new and altogether different – something perhaps shiny and modern, but also less welcoming to the community and families that called have called Hilltop home for so many years. Their mural, like so many others, is fading away, and with it a certain essence of a bygone era, of a neighborhood being ushered away from its past.
