Newberg Mural Project
In the summer of 2018, a partnership between the George Fox University (GFU) Arts Department and the Newberg Noon Rotary Club was formed with the mission of creating the first of many welcoming and eye-catching murals that celebrated community and captured the spirit of Newberg and the surrounding area. This summer, GFU and the Newberg Noon Rotary Club have wrapped up their 5th installment with a new mural titled "Flowing Connection."
“I’m particularly excited about this 2024 mural as in addition to its attractiveness it includes a viewer interactive “grape arbor” space which was designed for two people to take a selfie picture showing them as part of the mural!”
The space for the mural was generously provided by the owners of Ixtapa Restaurant on East First Street in downtown Newberg. The GFU Arts Professor who guided the project, Seth Van Der Eems, noted that this year's mural is about community connection and how we are supporting and are supported by the land and the local ecology. Looking to capture the Rotarian emphasis on care, they saw it as an extension of how we take care of the landscape. He noted that the pot depicted in the art is of Kalapuyan design, giving recognition to the native tribes of the Willamette Valley region. The river flowing out of it represents the Willamette River along with our beautiful, natural landscapes.
Geoff Gilmore, the Rotarian representative involved in leading the project, said of the mural "I'm particularly excited about this 2024 mural as in addition to its attractiveness it includes a viewer interactive "grape arbor" space which was designed for two people to take a selfie picture showing them as part of the mural!"
