Murals of Silverton, Oregon facts for kids
The city of Silverton, Oregon, is like an outdoor art gallery! It has over 30 large paintings, called murals, displayed all around town. Many of these beautiful artworks have been paid for and taken care of by the Silverton Mural Society. This group started in 1992. The murals tell stories about local history and important people from Silverton. Some famous figures you might see include Homer Davenport, Donald Pettit, and even a special dog named Bobbie the Wonder Dog. You can also find a copy of Norman Rockwell's famous Four Freedoms paintings, which were reproduced in Silverton in 1994.
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The Story of Silverton's Murals
The Silverton Mural Society began in 1992. This group has helped put up about 30 murals. The idea for the society came from a town in Canada called Chemainus, which also has many murals. Along with the society, a special team was formed to help make Silverton beautiful with art. The murals are kept in great condition. The Silverton Mural Society spends about $10,000 to $12,000 each year to maintain them. This shows how much they care about their public art.
What You'll See: Famous Murals
Silverton has a lot of murals, especially in its downtown area. These artworks are painted on the outside of buildings. They often show scenes from local history or important people from the area. The artists use special oil-based paints for these murals. They also add a protective layer to keep them safe from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Murals of Local Heroes
You can find murals of famous people like Homer Davenport, who was a well-known cartoonist. There's also a mural of Donald Pettit, an astronaut who grew up in Silverton. Another popular mural features Bobbie the Wonder Dog. Bobbie was a dog who traveled thousands of miles to find his way home.
The Four Freedoms Mural
One very special artwork is the reproduction of Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms series. These famous paintings were originally created in 1943. In Silverton, artist David McDonald completed the reproduction in 1994.
Oldest Murals and More
The mural of Bobbie the Wonder Dog is very long, about 70-foot (21 m)! It is located near Town Square Park. The city's oldest murals are called Mammoth and The Oregon Trail. These two artworks were installed in 1992, the same year the Mural Society started. If you want to learn more about each mural, there's even an iPhone app called "Silverton Murals." It tells you the history behind each artwork.
