Pride mural to come to Wilsonville Parks and Recreation building

Walking by the Wilsonville Parks and Recreation building on Park Place this June, you will see a colorful mural dedicated to Pride Month.

At a recent meeting, the Wilsonville Arts, Culture and Heritage Commission selected artist Lauren Kyles to paint a temporary Pride mural on the building’s windows.

Kyles said in an artist statement that the design will “symbolize growth, transformation, love happiness and the connections that bind us together.” The elaborate mural uses a color palette inspired by the LGBTQ+ Pride flag, according to the statement. Images of people are somewhat androgynous in the design, allowing people of all gender identities to relate to it.

Illustrations of flowers that the artist said have a history of representing same-sex love, and add “a layer of symbolism for those in the know,” are also incorporated into the design, Kyles said in the statement.

While the commission members expressed concern over the subtlety of the Pride themes, they appreciated the sophistication of the design. Kyles’ design was chosen over one other, which the members felt had “childlike images”.

David Altman appreciated the addition of phrases “love is love” and “good to be out,” which he said are well known and understood in the community, as well as Kyles’’ effort to explain what the illustrations represent in the artist statement.

“They really tried to get a message across, and a good message,” Altman said about Kyles’ work.

A mural reception will take place from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, at Town Center Park.