Arts Participation Initiative - ArtWalla

Walla Walla is a charmed little city. Located in the heart of Washington’s wine country Walla Walla has a picturesque main street. Rolling wheat fields surround the city and turn of the century architecture and contemporary public art abounds. The lush green Whitman College campus sits right at the edge of downtown. Whitman College is one of several higher education centers in the Walla Walla area. For all these reasons and more, people are “discovering” this city in Eastern Washington.

As with most cities much of the history is invisible. What we don't see in the city is the fact that main street was once the Indian raceway. The tribes that once called these rolling hills home still exist and their culture is alive. What does remain visible in Walla Walla is the enduring tale of the Whitman Mission and the massacre that occurred there. The Whitman Mission is located on the outskirts of the city and is a tourist destination. The emphasis on the mission and that event is unfortunate and one that ArtWalla has taken this big step to show a more broad history with this project.

Oddfellow's Building facade, detail of the art in the facade windows, and the unveiling of the Windows on the Past.

Formed in 1992 by a dedicated group of people, Blue Mountain Arts Alliance came into existence. They recently changed their name to ArtWalla. This name had recognition from the event they sponsored called “ArtWalla.” Their former name was not as catchy or identifiable with the group.

ArtWalla consistently brings public art and art education to the area. Jeana Garske is the part time Director. For now, they do not have a public office space. They have a dedicated board that helps with the projects and a broader membership base in the community. As with many successful groups, their members are tied to the community in other ways. One example is Walla Walla 2020. This is a civic group that envisions and plans for now and for the future. The interweaving of civic groups and art helps Walla Walla to exude a sense of vision for their city.

The current, “Windows on the Past,” project goes back to ArtWalla identifying the need to save the art-carved sandstone facade of the crumbling 1902 Oddfellows' building. The facade is beautiful but the building behind it just wasn't going to make it. The beams were literally rotting away. Baker Boyer Bank who owned the building helped to move the facade. Residents stepped up and jumped all the hurdles to move the top two stories of the facade to Heritage Park in 1994. Since then the windows have sat empty staring at a blank brick wall.

The windows called out for something. Could it be a place for art? ArtWalla’s board decided that it was the place for “Windows on the Past.” The park that the facade resides in is called Heritage Park and perhaps that was the inspiration to dive into the past. The logical start was to recognizing the Native Americans that first called this home.

The remaining 16 windows will be filled with images from ethnic and cultural groups who lived in or came to the Valley from 1850-1950. This time period frames the age of the 1902 facade.

ArtWalla hired Karen Lavender to paint photo realistic murals representing the past. Her concerns over long-term durability led her to identify a process of transferring photos to ceramic on metal panels that are durable and graffiti resistant. Since she is a painter she stepped down from the production work and Jeanne McMenemy was hired as Art Director and Production Artist.

ArtWalla began by contacting the representatives of the tribes at the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute located in Mission, Oregon. Jess Nowland, who works at the Institute, helped make sure that the photos correctly represent their history. In addition to the historic photos are photos of the sunflowers that grow wild, the beadwork and painting on leatherwork that lives on today. Hans Matschukat, Dick Dallas and Jeffrey Rich took these contemporary photos. Major Lee Moorhouse and Edward Curtis are credited with the historic photographs. Winsor Fireform produced the panels. The Walla Walla Foundry designed the framework, which holds the individual window panes and installed the two window niche units.

Tamastslikt means interpreter and it is the center for the three distinct Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla Tribes. They have melded together over the past 150 years and now are called the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. They describe themselves as a small group with a big story to tell.

The unveiling was organized in conjunction with the opening of Artrain USA. Artrain USA is an exhibit of contemporary native art. ArtWalla invited Artrain USA and raised the funds necessary to bring the traveling exhibit to Walla Walla. The train cars were toured by school groups for 2 ½ days and was open free of charge to the general public for 3 days during its time in Walla Walla; a total of 2513 visitors enjoyed the “Native Views; Influences of Modern Culture” exhibit.

ArtWalla hired Dance Troop Generations to perform at the opening of Artrain. Jess Nowland gave a moving speech and dedication. Several other speakers also addressed the crowd and welcomed the visitors. Toby Patrick from the Dance Troop Generations told about each of the dances and stories from his grandfathers and father. The group is made up of generations of dancers carrying on the stories and traditions of their ancestors.

The linking of the two events created an opportunity to have the voices from the tribes heard and seen. It is a small step towards understanding and learning the long history of the tribes. The “Windows on the Past” project is a tremendous gift to Walla Walla.

Future work will focus on fundraising to complete the panels. Having the first windows complete will hopefully help this task. They hope to finish the whole “Windows on the Past” project by the end of 2008. Since the work was all done digitally, smaller reproductions could be made and sold as a way to raise money. In addition, through the extensive research they have compiled many more images than they may use. Future plans may lead to the creation of a book or multi-media presentation.

The project has links to Whitman College. Julia Davis, professor of philosophy and general studies at Whitman College, is heading up a research component for the project. Through a class entitled “Critical and Alternative Voices,” Professor Davis works with students to identify the groups whose stories should be included, and procure potential documents for the panel art.

ArtWalla shows success and leadership in their ability to work with many interest groups in its community to make public art and art education available to residents and visitors to Walla Walla.

Art Walla reports that the first section of the murals was completed with generous assistance from Washington State Arts Commission (Arts Participation Initiative), The Welch Trust, US Bancorp, The Bonnie Braden Foundation, The Kenneth B. Wells Trust, and individual donors at the ArtWalla Bronze Pour and Auction. Fundraising to complete panels for the rest of the facade window openings, celebrating the Valley's ethnic and natural history is ongoing.

Site visit and photos by Saya Moriyasu, November 2006.

^