The Greetings Tour Bend
Greetings from Bend Mural
Title: Greetings from Bend
Artist: Victor Ving
Photographer: Lisa Beggs
Year: 2023
Type: Mural
Medium: Spray paint and Latex
Dimensions: 11'H x 26'W
Location: 450 NW Franklin Ave, Bend, Oregon, United States
Part of: Greetings Tour
Background
The mural's roots trace back to the Greetings Tour, an ambitious initiative that began as a homage to vintage postcards and has since evolved into a nationwide movement to capture the essence of various American cities and communities. The Bend mural stands as Oregon's maiden tribute within this ambitious project. The Greetings Tour is a nation-wide mural project led by muralist Victor Ving and photographer Lisa Beggs.
Amidst the challenges of 2020, as the pandemic cast its shadow globally, the greetings tour created an annual mural grant program. This initiative was designed to breathe life into smaller American cities, which were grappling with diminished tourism. In 2021, the Downtown Bend Business Association, seeing the opportunity to harness art's transformative power, put forth an application for this Grant (money), were selected, and now have a new attraction. Victor and Lisa have been traveling the country and working with communities since 2015 to create their iconic modern murals across the United States. This mural was created on the south-facing wall of the Downtown Bend Chase branch between Lava Rd. & Tin Pan Alley.
From its ideation to completion, the journey of the mural was a collaborative effort between artists, sponsors, and the community. This is the first official postcard mural in the state of Oregon and is not just a standalone piece but represents a mesh of community aspirations and historical significance. Through the process, the mural has transformed from being a public artwork to a landmark in Bend, capturing the gaze and admiration of locals and tourists alike.
Greetings Tour Mural Licensing & Copyright Information
Inspiration and Explanation
The "Greetings from BEND Mural[1]" is more than mere paint on a wall; it was rendered with acute attention to detail, every brushstroke emanates the town's unique stories, heritage, and ethos. The harmonious blending of colors, intricate detailing, and symbolic representations speaks volumes of Victor Ving's deep-rooted connection to the art of murals and Lisa Beggs' keen eye for capturing moments in a frame. “It's inspired by vintage postcards from the 1930s to 1950s that read 'Greetings From,' which informs their project, Greetings Tour.”
Each letter has been meticulously crafted to represent a significant unique facet of Bend:
- B — Depicting the iconic Pilot Butte (Oregon) amid the celebratory ambiance of the 4th of July fireworks.
- E — Paying homage to the historic Tower Theatre (Bend, Oregon).
- N — A tribute to Local Artist Collaboration, especially highlighting contributions from Vivi Design Co.
- D — Capturing the serene vistas of Drake Park Neighborhood Historic District & Mirror Pond.
Reception and Media
- Central Oregon Daily News[2] highlighted the mural as a novel addition to Bend, marking Oregon's inaugural venture with the national Greetings Tour project.
- KTVZ News Channel 21[3] shed light on the meticulous craftsmanship behind the mural.
- KBND[4] enriched the narrative with its comprehensive audio coverage, emphasizing the mural's societal impact.
- Cascade Business News[5] gave life to this wonderful story to support this project
References
"The Story Behind New York's 'Welcome To Chinatown' Mural". Forbes. Sayej, Nadja. May 19, 2020.
"SLIDESHOW: They're Covering America With Giant Postcards". Honolulu Civil Beat. February 11, 2019.
"New mural celebrating Alaska in Downtown Anchorage". ktuu.com. July 2, 2018.
"New Mural on Magazine Street by the Greetings Tour Now Completed | Where Y'at". www.whereyat.com. March 8, 2019.
"New Logan Square Mural Sends 'Greetings From' Chicago". CNBS News. May 14, 2015.
"This Is 'Greetings from Tucson': New mural going up downtown". Arizona Daily Star. Irene McKisson. February 16, 2017.
This article "The Greetings Tour Bend" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:The Greetings Tour Bend. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
