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Work is now underway along 10th Avenue/Calle Diez
Two new murals are now being painted by local artists in Hillsboro’s Cultural Arts District along 10th Avenue, or Calle Diez as the area is known.
Work on the murals started Monday, September 12, and will wrap up at the beginning of October, in time for the celebration of Hillsboro Arts Month. To ensure the safety of the artists and pedestrians during the mural painting, the sidewalk will remain closed near 10th Avenue & Walnut Street during the mural installation.
The murals, the first to be commissioned by the City of Hillsboro, represent a collaborative partnership between the City of Hillsboro, Regional Arts & Cultural Council, and the local business community.
Created through a new mural training program that focuses on the professional development and support of local BIPOC artists, Going Public! – A Murals Skill-Building Intensive pairs mentee artists with mentors. Hillsboro is the first and only location in Washington County to participate in this program, which paired emerging local artist Abdiel Flores Ubaldo with mentor William Hernandez.
Meet the Artists
Hillsboro-based artist Abdiel Flores Ubaldo will paint a yet-to-be-titled mural that captures an outdoor scene full of sunflowers on the wall of the business center at 10th Avenue & Walnut Street (460 10th Avenue). Community input gathered during the 10th Avenue Visioning project inspired the design, which aims to reflect the identity of Hillsboro’s Calle Diez neighborhood.
“My daily life and personal experiences have always been a source of inspiration for many of my art pieces,” said Abdiel Flores Ubaldo, emerging artist. “My artwork involves themes of growth and love indicated through floral elements and symbolism from loving memories. As a growing adult, I am becoming more aware of how influential the people around me have been. This collection of work focuses on exploring the people from my home.”
William Hernandez, a Portland-based artist, will paint Los Portales de mi Tierra (The Portals of my Land) on the wall of Supermercado Mexico (970 SE Oak Street) facing 10th Avenue.
“In celebration of Latino culture in Northwest Oregon, I wanted to represent the connection of our collective memory of the markets in Latin America by bringing their colors, flavors, shapes, artifacts, food, and many other elements that will welcome the viewer with this concept of great ‘open portals’,” Hernandez said. “It is a composition that can be easily seen and recognized, and I hope that it conveys the essence of union, family, and community to all the clients of this neighborhood business.”
The new murals are part of the City’s ongoing investments in the Calle Diez/10th Avenue area. They are emblematic of the collaboration between the two artists, as well as their focus on celebrating the many facets of the vibrant people and cultures encountered in the Calle Diez area.
See updates as the murals progress at Facebook.com/HillsboroArts.
