project leader
RJ T
location
411 Lincoln Avenue
(Bellevue)
latest update rss
The mural has been installed!! Thank you all for your support.

the project

The Bellevue Mural Arts Program was initiated by artists RJ Thompson, Kent Kerr, and Jennie Denton. In 2019, RJ and Kent initiated the "Bellevue Believes" research project, which uses interactive design thinking research activities to incite community feedback on the status of Bellevue's economic development, community development, education, and culture. Throughout these sessions, Bellevue residents, business owners, and stakeholders each shared their vision for Bellevue's growth. One of the more attainable goals that were captured from this community feedback was the lack of a presence of visual arts in Bellevue and especially on the main business corridor of Lincoln Avenue. Several community members suggested that the development of murals would be a practical, efficient, and tangible way of implementing visual arts into the avenue. In an effort to push this possibility forward and to source as many materials, resources, and manpower as locally as possible, Thompson and Kerr recruited local artist Jennie Denton to produce two mural designs (seen below) intended for community feedback and ultimately implementation. After many members of the public had seen the mural concepts, several stakeholders were excited to participate by offering walls of their properties for use to the murals, believing that change must be visible, apparent, and led by those with resources to create change. John King and Christopher Driscoll co-owners of Revival on Lincoln and Scott Streit, co-owner of 411 Lincoln Avenue (also with King) agreed to donate their spaces on their properties to Bona Fide Bellevue for the purpose of creating a mural featuring Bellevue's revitalization. What was originally supposed to be a single mural turned into a bigger creative placemaking program named "The Bellevue Mural Arts Program."

Both Revival on Lincoln and 411 Lincoln properties are situated diagonally across from one another on Lincoln Avenue, resulting in a minor walking tour of both murals. Jennie Denton, a local resident, artist, and designer, has provided the design for the two murals in a "Bellevue quirky" aesthetic that resonates with many different folks throughout the community. RJ Thompson and Kent Kerr, of Bellevue-based design research practice +Public, have donated $500 to pay Jennie for her work. All agree that artists are typically at the forefront of revitalization and that paying them for their contributions builds trust and long-lasting partnerships. Furthermore, Jennie will be able to produce prints and t-shirts of her designs and sell them at Bellevue-based stores and online, with a portion of the sales coming back to Bona Fide Bellevue to continue funding for additional murals. A small army of Bellevue volunteers are at the ready to get painting! 

These two beginning murals, ideally, will set a high standard that reflects the bright and colorful future of Bellevue. Potential sites for future murals include the retaining wall at Bayne Park on Balph Avenue, inside the Center of Bellevue church property, Northgate Junior/Senior High School, and just about any place where people will donate a wall or space. It would be incredible to see large, dynamic, and attention-grabbing artwork painted on walls throughout the entire community. 

The following work is courtesy of Jennie Denton, Lamplight Creative. Artwork subject to change.

This mural will be installed on the Little House at Revival on Lincoln, despite the mockup showing the 411 Lincoln property. 

 

 

 

the steps

Artists RJ Thompson and Jennie Denton will take lead on this project. RJ is leading the conceptual development, community engagement, volunteer recruitment, and fundraising efforts. Jennie will take point on mural designs, artistic direction, teaching, and surface preparation. John King and Scott Streit will provide access to the donated spaces as needed.

Once we have cash in hand, we will purchase paint, primer, and additional accessories required for mural creation, including but not limited to sanding equipment, ladders, etc. Bona Fide Bellevue board members will assist in recruiting volunteers such as local artists, student-artists (under guidance), residents, and entrepreneurs. Since this timeline is somewhat unpredictable because of the weather, teams of volunteers will be needed to produce both murals simultaneously. If we are unable to initiate or complete the two murals within the suggested timeframe, they will be postponed until late spring/early summer 2020. Jennie Denton will produce prints and a complementing t-shirt fundraiser campaign featuring her artwork will also be a critical feature of the mural design and installation process. 

why we're doing it

Bellevue, despite having a base of wonderfully talented residents and stakeholders, does not have an active creative placemaking or public art program. While the arts are represented by the Herrmann Museum and Northgate High School, among others, visual art integrated into the main business corridor has a minimal existence. In previous years, there has been a call for more publicly-accessible visual public art with minimal success. Where music and performing arts have a meaningful and long-standing presence in the Bellevue community, visual arts do not. While Bona Fide Bellevue is not an organization solely dedicated to the arts, it does have the capability to serve the arts by way of tapping into the rich and diverse experiences of arts professionals within Bellevue. A recent example of visual arts integration is the mural/facade design for Lincoln Avenue Brewery. This design was privately funded and produced by volunteers within the community. With this example being the leading example of visual arts integration into the main business corridor, the Bellevue Mural Arts Program is well-positioned to carry the spirit of that example forward into new murals created by, with, and for the community.

As Bellevue celebrates a community and economic development revitalization—drawing in new people into the community to experience new restaurants, retail, and more—we need to reinforce that there is an active and growing culture that makes Bellevue worth returning to, time and time again. These two beginning murals, ideally, will kickstart interest in having more citizen artwork featured on vacant spaces in the community and reinforce what so many people already believe about Bellevue—that it's a place for everyone. A place of all colors and walks of life. A place for creating new lives, friendships, families, and lasting memories of the place they are proud to call home.

budget

DISBURSED BUDGET 

Assorted Paints 20 50 1000
Exterior Primer 50 10 500
Equipment Rental 120 4 480
Artist Fees  20 25 500
Painting Supplies     1000
Mini Scaffolding 30 10 300
9' Cargo Van 20 10 200
Liquitex Gel Medium 60 4 240
Photography & Video 50 10 500
Water     16.43
       
    TOTAL: 4736.43

 



TOTAL RAISED = $4,919.00
ioby Platform Fee $35.00
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $147.57
TOTAL TO DISBURSE= $4,736.43

 

REVISED GOAL & BUDGET (11.19.19)

Budget Breakdown
$4196 for paints and mural-related supplies.



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $4,196
ioby Platform Fee $35
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $131
TOTAL TO RAISE = $4,362

 

John King and Scott Streit, owners of 411 Lincoln Avenue, have donated the entire side of their building for the placement of a single mural. Additionally, John King and Chris Driscoll, owners of Revival on Lincoln restaurant, have donated the Fremont Avenue-facing wall of the "Little House" of Revival on Lincoln for a second mural. RJ Thompson and Kent Kerr, owners of Bellevue-based design practice +Public, are donating $500 to pay the artist fees. Jennie Denton, local resident and owner of Lamplight Creative, will be providing the artwork. 

Budget Breakdown
$2000 for paints and mural-related supplies.

 



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $2,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $63
TOTAL TO RAISE = $2,098

updates

The mural has been installed!! Thank you all for your support.

The mural has been installed!! Thank you all for your support. 

Bellevue Mural Arts Program Volunteer Meetup

Hello,

You are invited to a special Zoom Meetup for the Bellevue Mural Arts Program on June 17th at 7pm on Zoom. 

During this meetup, we will introduce the project team and volunteers, discuss the current state of the first mural, discuss future community arts projects, and more. We have a lot of updates to share! An agenda will be sent in advance of the meeting. 

We will be recording this session and posting the recording to YouTube and the Bona Fide Bellevue website for the purposes of sharing with future volunteers. Camera use is optional. If you are unable to make it, I will make the recording available to you. 

Please feel free to forward this e-mail to any folks you think may be interested in volunteering. 

June 17th, 7pm on Zoom. 

https://pitt.zoom.us/j/92862788831
More Info: 
https://www.bonafidebellevue.org/event/bellevue-mural-arts-program-meetup/

Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns in advance of the meeting. 

Thank you!   

--

//

RJ Thompson, MFA

call/text: 4127797665

Bellevue Mural Arts Program UPDATES!

Greetings.

It’s almost been one year since the intended completion of the Bellevue Mural Arts Program. The COVID-19 pandemic has sent our world, personal lives, and even this project in all kinds of directions. I want to thank all of you who have donated, supported, cheered us on, and perhaps most important of all, remained patient with us as we navigated the chaos of the year. I am pleased to say that despite the setbacks related to the pandemic, the Bellevue Mural Arts Program continues to progress forward!

We finished the fundraiser strong and raised significantly more funds than originally requested - all thanks to YOU. Our fundraising goal was met and then doubled through a matching grant from IOBY and Artplace America. Not only do we have the necessary budget to produce two murals, but potentially more! 

There are many updates to share!!

Donation Rewards

You all should have received an e-mail from me (RJ Thompson / rj@bonafidebellevue.org) requesting your home address. If I received a response from you, then you should have received your donation rewards. I either hand-delivered it to you in-person or left them on your porch or mailbox. If you did not receive an e-mail from me, please contact me at the e-mail listed above and I will deliver the donation rewards to you after getting your address. If you did respond to me but did not receive your donation rewards yet, please let me know and I’ll deliver the donation rewards to you as soon as possible.

Due to the generosity of +Public and Process Reproductions, Inc., all of you should have received two pins. If you donated over the $10 level, you should have also received a framed print. If any of the items were damaged, please let me know and I will do my best to replace them.    

 

Purchasing Additional Mural Merch 

Pins, postcards, prints, and t-shirts are available for purchase. Each of these items, except t-shirts, can be purchased directly from Bona Fide Bellevue.

Please e-mail me and I can arrange an order for you and/or provide you with a link to shop the t-shirt merchandise. 

All proceeds benefit the Bellevue Mural Arts Program! 
 

Donate Your Spaces

Due to the huge success of the fundraiser, we have an opportunity to impact more areas than just the walls of buildings! We can transform common spaces into meaningful and memorable creative places throughout our community. If you have areas of your property that you think would offer a creative opportunity for a mural, three-dimensional art, or something else, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/UfPQxx9p1PWMhLxN9

Some examples of creative placemaking include painting exterior walls of garages, steps, and retaining walls. If you have the space for it, we may even be able to feature three-dimensional pieces such as free-standing sculptures, frames to hang paintings, and more. 

Right now we are only considering private properties with spaces that can be visible in public spaces like the sidewalk, streets, or alleyways. 

Join our Community Arts Committee!

Because of the continued success of this program, we’ve received multiple inquiries about developing a broader initiative for the arts in Bellevue (and the North Boroughs!) 

I am seeking to build the Community Arts Committee (a sub-committee of Bona Fide Bellevue) composed of artists, musicians, teachers, and creatives of all types to advocate for public art, promote public art opportunities, assess artwork submissions, facilitate community engagement in the arts, and ultimately lead the production and implementation of public art in Bellevue. Additionally, as a member of this newly minted committee, you will have a voice in crafting the mission of this committee and how it completes its work. 

If you are interested in participating, please submit your information below and I will be in contact with you. 

Join Us: https://forms.gle/2Ubx6Yb9aJWTDoGg9

 

Mural Implementation

We are back on track to implement the mural in late April/early May, depending on the status of the pandemic and any municipal, county, or state mandates that prohibit groups of people from gathering. 

411 Lincoln Avenue will still be the place where the mural (featured in the print with the “Bellevue” typography) will be implemented. While the exterior of the building is undergoing some light construction, it should not prohibit full implementation. The only present issue we won’t be able to resolve until the construction is complete is what the true scale of the mural will be. 

The Little House at Revival on Lincoln, which was the intended destination for the second mural, is no longer available to us. We are seeking an alternative space to feature the second mural seen on the IOBY page with the Live Worship Shop sign in the bottom corner. We do have the funding to produce this mural, so if you have recommendations on available spaces, please fill out the “Donate Your Spaces” form linked above or contact me via e-mail. 

 

Getting Involved

The community-centric nature of how these murals would be implemented has been completely shut down because of the pandemic. We made the decision to delay implementation because the public could not truly be involved in its creation. These murals must be created by and for the community. We’re optimistic that gathering restrictions will be lifted to some degree by the end of April/early May. If this is not the case, we will have to proceed with implementation as best as we possibly can. 

At present, the plan is to trace the mural designs on the wall at 411 Lincoln by using a projector. Within the tracing, we’ll list a number within specific shapes to correspond with specific colors. For example, 1 is Red, 2 is green, etc. We want residents and stakeholders of all ages and walks of life to contribute, even if it is just filling in a shape with a single color. Once the base artwork is done, the project team (RJ and Jennie primarily, other volunteers will be enlisted) will apply the fine and finishing details. Upon completion, we’ll have a small event where folks can visit the mural space and get their picture taken in front of it. 

In addition to these activities, I am planning on hosting a few Zoom webinars on the history of the Bellevue Mural Arts Program and the action plan for the mural implementation featuring a few notable area mural artists. 

Please stay tuned for these details as they won’t be finalized closer to the intended implementation date. 

//

I want to thank you all again for your generous support and patience with the development of this project. I’m very excited to build this project with you. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or IDEAS! I’d love to hear them. 

 

Kind Regards,

RJ Thompson, MFA

 

Board Member, Bona Fide Bellevue

Chair, Community Arts Committee

rj@bonafidebellevue.org

 

 

 

We crossed $4,000!

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far! We officially crossed over the $4,000 mark, with $277 left to go to our next fundraising goal. This program keeps getting better by the day! 

WE HIT OUR GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOOO! WE HIT OUR GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so grateful for all of you who have contributed to this project. Please stay tuned for more updates.

Accepted into Artists Lead!

The Bellevue Mural Arts Program has been accepted into IOBY's Artists Lead challenge match program! This project is now eligible for up to $15,000 in match funding. Donations will be doubled - up to $1k per donor. Please help spread the word about this opportunity to your Bellevue friends and neighbors via e-mail and Facebook. 

photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Revival on Lincoln
  • Missy Wozetek
  • PSquare Scents
  • The Pease Family
  • Anonymous
  • Greg 'Ta-Da' Tadda
  • Anonymous
  • Caroline Johns
  • Grant and lisa saylor
  • Em & PJ Kemerer
  • RJ & Becky Startzenbach
  • Hepner Family
  • Nikki Brandt
  • Tom Stokes
  • Anonymous
  • alan byrne
  • Robin
  • Scott and Trina Streit
  • Courtney Clendennen
  • Jodi Cerminara
  • Christopher Driscoll
  • Susan Stabnau & Roger Powell
  • Christie Strub
  • Chrissy Basile
  • Venczel Family
  • Amy Joy Robinson
  • Wooldridge Family
  • Jeremy Thieroff
  • Joyce Loebig
  • Anya Pikul
  • Michael Domian and Andrea Contes
  • Alisa M.
  • Christine & John King
  • Jeff Stuncard
  • Anonymous
  • Kim and Andrew Uccellini
  • Jillian Edmondson
  • Kaitlin Caviston
  • The Murray-Marcum Family
  • Kaela Speicher Photography
  • Katie Aronoff
  • Sue Vesch
  • Jean L Dennison
  • Theresa Gallick
  • Anonymous