The Murals of West Seattle by
Chris Nack Many Fauntleroy
Church members worked with other volunteers in the West Seattle
community to create the murals that adorn the buildings in west
side business districts.
The Idea
| In
the late 1980s, while visiting Ocean Shores, church member
Earl Cruzen happened upon a mural in progress. Inspired
by this creative way to enhance urban space, Earl envisioned
a series of murals that would lend grace to West Seattle.
An active member of his own community, he believed that
murals of historical vignettes would aesthetically enhance
the large walls of West Seattle businesses in addition
to showing the area’s rich history. Earl
began a campaign to utilize the blank canvasses of West
Seattle’s business districts.He proposed the project
to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and The Murals
of West Seattle program was born. |
|
The Junction
Morgan Street Market |
|
Press Day
|
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A team comprised of many community members and the Junction
Development Committee instigated a campaign to fund the
murals, obtaining matching grant money from the City of
Seattle’s Neighborhood Grants program. Much needed financial
assistance came from many generous contributors, including
Fauntleroy Church members Ed and Pearl Ebert, Don Jackson,
Bill Sedgley, Chuck Washburn, Jo Leckenby, Elsie Meacham,
Edith Bender, Bill Davis, Bob Sleem, Evelyn Balko, Helen
Sutton, Marge Christiansen, Pearl Bostrom, Virginia Cruzen,
Ginny Galbraith, Arnold Kessler, Bill Viloudaki, Betty Dunbar,
and Jo Ann Kirkpatrick. |
The grants and contributions paid for the artists’ services
and project supplies. Community organizations such as
South Seattle Community College, the City of Seattle Department
of Neighborhoods, The Seattle Art Commission and the Washington
State Centennial also assisted in bringing the project
to fruition.
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|
"Moe
Beerman's Basic Steps - 1st Mural
Painting" |
The Team
Historical research
was completed by a committee led by Clay Eals, with Fauntleroy Church
members Elliot Coudon, Bonnie Beerman and Joan Fulton assisting.
Volunteers from the greater West Seattle community donated hundreds
of hours of labor to build walls and foundations. Church member
Norm Christiansen provided carpentry and electrical services. Other
church members equipped the muralist’s premises with linens, furnishings,
and other necessities. Ed Ebert and Dave Galbraith labored for countless
hours wherever needed. Earl also enlisted Moe Beerman to assist
with the project. Earl saw this project as the perfect opportunity
for Moe to put his graphic skills and talents to good use. Moe filled
the muralist liaison position, where he worked as an assistant to
the hired artists.
The Result
In all, 11 historical murals
in and around the main West Seattle business districts celebrate
West Seattle’s heritage. The murals, in the order created are:
- West Seattle Ferries
- The Junction
- Midnight Call
- Mosquito Boat Landing
- The First Duwamish
Bridge
- Morgan Street Market
- Alki in the Twenties
- Tuesday’s Bank Day
- The Hi-Yu Parade
- The Old Mud Hole
- Press Day
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West Seattle Ferries
|
In
1992 the projects won a national Neighborhood of the Year
Award from Neighborhoods USA, a national non-profit organization
committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations.
By utilizing individual gifts and talents, the community worked
together to create lasting images of Seattle’s past.
Additional Gifts
The Murals of West Seattle
community volunteer group sponsored the Walking on Logs bronze sculptures
at the west end of the West Seattle Bridge. |
