The installation features local flora and fauna like elderberry, salmon, camas flower and acorn
By Julia Sommer for Ashland.news
Just in time for July 4, Ashland’s Street Division installed a colorful thermoplastic artwork before sunrise July 2 in the crosswalk at the entrance to Lithia Park on Winburn Way. Starting at 3 a.m. and finishing at 6:30 a.m., minimal traffic disruption was the aim.
Titled “Walking Upstream,” the work was designed by Glory Salinas Nylander of Vancouver, Washington, chosen after a call for submissions went out from the city of Ashland Public Arts Advisory Committee (PAAC).
The idea for the crosswalk art originated last year in the PAAC, then chaired by Ken Engelund, in consultation with Director of Public Works Scott Fleury and Director of Community Development Brandon Goldman. The committee’s motion was then vetted and approved by the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC).
An artist selection committee was quickly formed, and the call went out for proposals that had to have historical relevance to the Plaza area. The goal was to have the crosswalk art in place by July 4, otherwise installation would have to wait until the fall. Corinne Vieville, a sight-impaired member of the TAC, recommended white striping for seeing-eye dogs, which was included.
“I think the result is pretty spectacular,” says Engelund, “mainly due to the wonderful design and creativity of Glory.”
“I knew this crosswalk design could be a bridge connecting us to the past,” says Nylander. “I researched the Shasta people who lived in and around Ashland and found that they ate elderberry, salmon, camas flower root and acorn flour, which I incorporated into the design. There is intentionally no top or bottom to the image, so the components are recognizable from all angles. I used the eight bold colors
available in thermoplastic.
“The blue symbolizes the river and crosses at an angle, so crossing the street from either direction, you can feel as if you are walking upstream the way salmon run upstream. Ashland has a rich history, and my hope was to create a bold piece of art that would be interesting, recognizable, visible from all angles, and maybe informative as people look into the meaning of the images. The elderberry, salmon, camas flower, and acorn represent natural resources of the past, what we enjoy in the present, and if we are good to this earth and preserve what we have now, we hope will nourish future generations.
“Being limited to eight colors was challenging, and I’ve never worked in thermoplastic. I had to be bold!”
Nylander has painted two pianos for the Piano Project in Klamath Falls.
For more information about her work, see GloryNylander.com.
The thermoplastic manufacturer was Geveko Markings of Gainseville, Georgia, which produced and sent the artwork in less than a week. (Geveko has done art crosswalks for Medford.) The crosswalk art should last 5-10 years, and individual pieces can be replaced if necessary.
“I definitely think we’ll be seeing more of these street artworks in Ashland,” says Public Works Director Fleury.
Funding for the project ($12,000) came from Ashland’s Beautification Initiative, approved by Interim City Manager Sabrina Cotta, which is aimed at enhancing the visual appeal and cultural richness of Ashland’s commercial areas.
Email freelance writer Julia Sommer of Ashland at juliamsommer@gmail.com.
