Bill Papas's mural of Portland, Oregon depicts more than 50 prominent residents of the city during the 1990s. The watercolor painting was displayed at a restaurant in the Hilton Portland Hotel from 1995 to 2014. It was donated to the Oregon Historical Society when the hotel and restaurant were redesigned. The Oregon Historical Society Museum exhibited the work in early 2015, and again for one month in 2018. People depicted in the mural include Stephen Bollenbach, Gert Boyle, James DePreist, Sho Dozono, Jack Faust, Peggy Fowler, Neil Goldschmidt, Mark Hatfield, Barron Hilton, Vera Katz, John Kitzhaber, Phil Knight, Robert B. Pamplin, Arlene Schnitzer, Fred Stickel, and Charles Swindells.
Description
The watercolor painting measures by and depicts 54 prominent residents of the city during the 1990s, and who "have played roles in modern Portland". The Oregonian Douglas Perry described the mural as "Portland's own version of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band LP cover". People painted in the mural include:
Shirley Berselli
Mary Bishop
Owen Blank
Stephen Bollenbach
Gwyneth Booth
Gert Boyle
James DePreist
Sho Dozono
Serge D'Rovencourt
John Eskildsen
Jack Faust
Peggy Fowler
Gerry Frank
Stan Geffen
Neil Goldschmidt
Joseph Ha
Antoinette Hatfield
Mark Hatfield
Barron Hilton
Dieter Huckestein
Jerry Hulsman
Brad Hutton
Roy Jay
Vera Katz
Ruth Keller
John Kitzhaber
Sharon LaCroix Kitzhaber
Phil Knight
Peter Kohler
Bud Lindstrand
Hillman Lueddemann Jr. Melvin "Pete" Mark Jr. Michael Maslowsky Carol McCall Diane McCall Larry Ogg Robert B. Pamplin Ron Ragen Dick Reiten Bob Ridgley Paul Romain Hilmar Rosenast Jim Rudd Arlene Schnitzer Ethel Simon-McWilliams Del Smith Fred Stickel Peter Stott Charles Swindells Ron Timpe Ben Whiteley Nancy Wilgenbusch Ted Winnowski Dick Woolworth
The Portlanders are gathered near the intersection of Southwest Broadway and Morrison Street, and several of the city's buildings are shown in the background, including the Broadway Building, Hilton Portland Hotel, Jackson Tower, Nordstrom, Pioneer Courthouse, and the Standard Insurance Center.
History
The mural was commissioned by Serge D'Rovencourt, a former manager of the Hilton Portland Hotel, and originally displayed in the hotel's restaurant, called Bistro 921, starting in 1995. In 2014, the hotel and bistro were remodeled and the painting was donated to the Oregon Historical Society. The work was displayed in the Oregon Historical Society Museum's North Wing Gallery in early 2015, for was showcased again for one month in 2018.
Reception
The Oregonian John Killen called the painting "fun" and "fanciful", and Douglas Perry said the mural was a "local favorite".
See also
List of public art in Portland, Oregon
Women Making History in Portland (2007), another mural depicting and honoring Portland women