Sunday, January 10, 2010

Terwilliger "Mystery" Mural Inquiry (Part One: A strange allure)


St. Mark Presbyterian Church, Portland, OR
Photo: God, LLC

I've walked and driven-by this mural countless times and it hasn't ceased to puzzle me. It has a strange allure. Not only is it quite well done for what should, by all indications, be an entirely ordinary, vanilla church/daycare mural (poorly-rendered children of all races doing cartwheels comes to mind), but its vivid colors, sharp lines and triumphant winged white lion evoke a certain mysticism, and it's prompted a curiosity in me that has resulted in my first God, LLC "assignment" (self-appointed, of course).

My assignment is to discover the origin and symbolism of this most mysterious mural. How did such a special piece get slapped onto a complex that otherwise exudes only mediocrity? When was it painted and by whom? These answers and more in the coming week.


Mural at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, Portland, OR
Photo: God, LLC

2 comments:

BF said...

definitely interested in this. perhaps a sunday morning service visit is in order...

GOD, LLC said...

God, LLC soon to change its name to "Born Again: One man's rediscovery of what really matters"