If you’ve walked near downtown lately, you may have seen new RIP CITY art come up along buildings and utility boxes.
Tiffany Conklin, the co-founder and Executive Director of Portland Street Art Alliance, says there are property owners that work with her organization to plaster murals on walls and when the Blazers wanted to team up, this was the perfect time to act.
“What they were interested in was something really different,” Conklin said. “(It was) more in line with our community art program.”
“(It turned into) something that changed over time and is that fun dynamic,” Conklin continued. “They didn’t want it to be as rigid as what a (normal) mural commission would be.”
Blazers Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing Ryan Flaherty with the Blazers says the organization gave complete freedom and control to the artists to mold what RIP City is all about.
“We have a long history with working with local artists,” Flaherty said. “We just asked them to celebrate RIP City as a whole.”
“(We wanted them) to showcase their style and their creativity on expressing themselves how they view the city,” Flaherty continued.
With the Blazers help, PSAA covered three murals around town and PBOT allowed 47 utility boxes to be wrapped by local artists.
VIA BLAZERS: Muralists
“For Rip City” – 66 SE Madison Street
Created by GIVER, KSRA and THEY DRIFT with accompanying art by NEKON, TIMBER, ASKEW, NOTES and THRIVES. “For Rip City” is more than just a name; it’s an ethos. Raindrops and basketballs are interspersed throughout the piece, making for a truly Portland drip n’ drop background.
“Rip City Roar” – 7 NE Oregon Street
Created by THEY DRIFT, KSRA and GIVER, inspired by hearing the roar of Moda Center gameday crowds, “this city doesn’t whisper. It plays LOUD,” said THEY DRIFT. Rip City Roar contains a mixture of character art and graphic lettering. The first panel features an impressive mashup of the Trail Blazers’ logo and a rose, leading into some tight lettering.
“Playoff Bound” – 3075 NE Sandy
Created by The Earwig and OPASIT, the art is packed with Rip City love: Blazers and Rip City call-outs, a central basketball team with the Blazers logo front and center, a pair of kicks nodding to Portland’s legendary footwear culture, and even the iconic PDX carpet as a nod to the Blazers’ City Edition jerseys.
Utility Box Artists
“With my family’s roots in the Oregon logging industry, the Paul Bunyan statue found in North Portland has always meant a lot to me, making it important to include in my design. Combining it with the iconic St. John’s Bridge was a perfect fit, as it’s not only one of my favorite bridges in Portland but also one I’m fortunate to cross daily.”
“Highlighting the diversity, brightness, and energy of NW Portland while also honoring its rich cultural history. The scene is inspired by Northwest featuring several iconic moments and symbols, including: the famous Vaux Swifts, the West Hills, Koi fish as a homage to China and the general food and drink scene with Northwest’s nightlife.”
“A nod to Northeast Portland’s history and its eclectic draw of restaurants, local music and art. Notably, I’m featuring a portrait of Paul Knauls, known as the “Mayor of Albina,” who has been a pillar of the community for decades. He ran an iconic jazz club in Albina called the Cotton Club in the 60s that hosted legends like Etta James & Sammy Davis Jr. The Dream statue in the Rose Quarter was an initiative he pioneered, and he just turned 95 in February!”
“This piece honors the symbiotic community of East Portland, depicting diversity, food, and park trails in tandem with each other. Inspired by my own upbringing between Hazelwood & Montavilla, first-gen Somali, Vietnamese, Russian, Mexican, and Congolese immigrants make up the fabric of diversity and the working-class population of Portland.”
“My design is inspired by the amazing and diverse people who make Portland so special. I wanted to create something that would make people smile and be proud of what makes their neighborhood unique.”
Edmund Mundo Holmes (@mundooo) – Southwest
“I wanted to infuse the city with moments of vibrant joy and expression through my art. Drawing inspiration from Portland’s enthusiasm for sport, nature and music, my goal was to reflect the city’s dynamic energy in a way that feels alive, shared and always in motion.”