Artist Liza Mana Burns puts finishing touches on the Celebrate Oregon! mural. Photo by Athena Delene.
Salem, Ore. – In recognition of Portland State University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, the Oregon Cultural Trust will install a full-scale mural of its Celebrate Oregon! artwork in PSU’s Viking Pavilion on Tuesday, March 12. The 4 to 5:30 p.m. unveiling event is by invitation only but will be open to media. This is the first permanent installation of the artwork in the Portland area.*
The event will feature performances by rising star Jimmie Herrod (of Pink Martini and America’s Got Talent fame) and Friends of Noise as well as a Tribal Welcome from Turquoise Pride – representing PSU’s Native American Student and Community Center.
The Celebrate Oregon! artwork, by Eugene artist Liza Mana Burns, was designed to reflect and respect the diversity of Oregon’s people, places and cultural traditions. More than 100 people from across the state were involved in the design process, including nominators, artists/designers, jury members and content experts – including representatives of the Governor’s Advocacy Commissions serving Oregon’s diverse communities.
The result is a vibrant panorama of Oregon geography into which are woven 127 symbols that depict our shared arts, heritage and humanities.
“Everyone who views the artwork seems to find a personal connection to one of the symbols, creating a sense of pride and belonging,“ said Cultural Trust Executive Director Brian Rogers. “It really does have the power to bring us together and feel a part of this place we call home.”
“What an honor it is to have this monumental work of art installed on our campus, where our students, staff, faculty and alumni can enjoy it and be inspired by it,” said Leroy E. Bynum, Jr., Dean of the PSU College of the Arts. “The multiplicity of symbols in the mural are a marvelous reflection of the diverse, vibrant and welcoming creative culture that emanates from this very special place.”
While commissioned for the new Cultural Trust license plate, when completed the Cultural Trust realized the artwork deserved much larger platforms – so they hired the artist to create full-scale murals for Oregon’s largest airports. It also appears as a custom wrap of the Oregon Coast Art Bus and was recently brought to life on a 2023 Portland Rose Festival float that won the prestigious Governor’s Award.
Explore the symbols and read about their connection to Oregon in the interactive key narrative.
For more information, or an invitation to the unveiling event, please contact carrie.kikel@biz.oregon.gov.
*A Celebrate Oregon! mural was previously installed at Portland International Airport as part of its rotating art exhibits.
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The Oregon Cultural Trust was established by the Oregon Legislature in 2001 as a unique means to reward Oregonians who invest in culture. Oregonians who donate to a cultural nonprofit and then make a matching gift to the Cultural Trust receive a 100% state tax credit for their gift to the Trust.