Celebrating History and Leadership

The theme “All Are Welcome” resonated with me. Often Black History Month focuses on The Struggle, but I’m tired of seeing Black heartache. I want joyful depictions for our month. I want Black people succeeding in their heart’s desire. I most of all want them to live, have the human experiences of learning, building community and making mistakes. All Are Welcome to have a colorful and meaningful future. Whether that is as a TriMet bus driver, playing for the Trailblazers, or being a friend — it all has meaning.

All sides of the bus wrap represent Black diversity. Not only in skintone, gender, and age. But through disablity, body types, hairstyles, and career. Each group happily interacting with their surroundings.

In my original sketches, I loved the changes in background colors. I kept the idea of using common shapes to tie bright & bold colors together. The final design has a range of colors from bright yellow to a dark blue with stars, almost like space. The back of the bus becomes a constellation of aspirations.

Icons like stars and flowers are meant to represent growth, dreams, wishes, and happiness. With spring right around the corner, I think these colors will brighten February and spread warm feelings to anyone who sees the Black History Month bus design.

• Desarea’s Instagram
• Desarea’s Website

A vibrant fantastical garden overflows with local flowers and produce, carefully tended to by women of different generations, with the younger ones flourishing among the blooms, having been lovingly nurtured by their elders.

With this piece I hope to celebrate what women, femme and nonbinary people in our region have done for our history and the millions of impactful ways they contribute daily to our city.

Throughout the garden are portraits of local women who have contributed to Portland's recent history, or who impact our city now in notable ways.

• Allison’s Instagram
• Allison’s Website

My LIFT bus Women’s History Month design celebrates the milestone contributions Oregon women have made in literature, highlighting both women who have used their voices to effect change and the achievements and products of their labor. The narrative starts on the right side near the main bus doors, where loose leaves of paper lead the viewer through some of the earliest records of Oregon women in writing professions, ultimately wrapping around the back of the bus to reveal more present-day personalities and the source of the loose pages: a book that is still open and being written. Included in the illustrated highlights throughout the design are poets, journalists, publishers, and bookstores that all contribute to the world of literature we know today and work toward equity. As a car-free downtown resident, I know that a good book is often my companion for a ride on public transit; my hope is that the playful and disarming style of my design will encourage curiosity and inspire riders and passers-by alike to learn more about the role of Oregon women in literature, pick up books by these authors, and shop locally at these women-owned establishments.

• Amy’s Instagram
• Amy’s Website

Odyssey of the Dragon is a tribute to the courage and hope of the immigrant families, like mine, who dared to chase the sun across the sea. The dragon’s body is composed of pieces of home—the seeds, the roots—that our ancestors couldn’t leave behind. The lush biodiversity in North America is a result of seeds and plants, brought by immigrants all around the world. My choice of expressing the theme through botany was based on 2024’s Wood Dragon zodiac and the various AANHPI Spring celebrations that take place during the month of May. Historically in Asia, the dragon is a symbol of power, leadership, and good luck; therefore, merged with the Wuxing element of wood, the Wood Dragon introduces growth, creativity, and flexibility to 2024. This design tells the odyssey of uprooting and rooting.

On the boarding side of the bus, the flowers composing the body of the dragon and setting sun, remind of the sacrifices made for new beginnings. Each flower species echoes the stories of their roots, every petal a metaphor for those who have arrived, and together, these flowers compose a garden of spring—the symbol of a new day. The dawn symbolizes a farewell while the body of the dragon affirms its decision to begin anew. The kites in particular were heavily researched for this bus wrap and include: the Chula (Thailand), Kleng Ek (Cambodia), Koinobori (Japan), Shayan (China), Pangp’aeyon (Korea), Wau Bulan (Malaysia), and Patang (India). The inspiration for the kites came from Māori myth of Tāwhaki constructing a kite from mulberry bark to reach the stars for the basket of knowledge. This basket of knowledge felt much like the dreams that inspire our families and the call to action it ignites.

On the road side, the wood dragon travels across the sea, wading through water and storm. This side is informed by the Southeast/East Asian myth of Dragon Gate that tells of the carp’s waterfall ascension and metamorphosis into dragon form from its courageousness. I found symmetry between my mother’s expatriation from South Korea to America and the key themes from the myth: obstacles, perseverance, bravery, and reinvention. In The Odyssey of the Dragon, the carp’s transformation is a form of adaptation; the scales remind of where the carp began, but the decision to make the journey has forever changed the once fish—as it did for my family’s story. Becoming the dragon brings a new onset of challenges that is felt for generations.

At the back of the bus is where these two dragons and their stories converge; yin and yang, balanced, the power in action and acceptance. This wood dragon has now made roots.

• ilish’s Instagram
• ilish’s Website

From Progress To Beyond is a vibrant vinyl bus wrap created for Trimet, celebrating the intersection of LGBTQ+ Pride, the ongoing journey of progress, and the boundless potential found in space exploration.

Through digital illustration and a meticulous translation of 2D designs onto a 3D canvas, I sought to capture the dynamic energy of both Pride and forward movement. Inspired by my earlier work with the Progress Pride Flag and a fascination with retro-futuristic space-age aesthetics, this piece aims to evoke a sense of wonder, optimism, and inclusivity.

The brightly colored bus serves as a moving beacon of Pride, a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community's journey towards equality and acceptance. It also serves as a reminder that progress, like the bus itself, requires continuous momentum to propel us into a brighter future.

The starburst element invites viewers to dream big, to envision a world where diversity is celebrated and where the boundaries of human potential are constantly being pushed. Just as space exploration expands our understanding of the universe, the LGBTQ+ rights movement broadens our understanding of love, identity, and community.

My hope is that this artwork will spark joy and curiosity in those who encounter it, encouraging them to embrace Pride, champion progress, and look towards the stars with a renewed sense of hope and possibility.

• Daniels’s Instagram
• Daniels’s Website
• Progress Initiative Website

Earth’s rich biodiversity is a beautiful metaphor for neurodiverse minds. Both have remarkable and unique abilities that fuel creativity, innovation, and change. However, the strengths of neurodivergent individuals is often overlooked despite history's evidence of their profound impact. To celebrate our diversity, 26 neurodiverse members of the Catlin Gabel community embarked on an art project inspired by nature, the most powerful model of “difference makes beauty.” Using double exposure silhouettes, each participant integrated elements of nature they resonated with to symbolize their individual power. The unique portraits are unified through the use of color, particularly cyanotype blue, known for instilling peace and confidence. Through this collaboration, we aimed to empower neurodivergent students and to foster a sense of magnificence and visibility. In celebrating our different minds, we found that we are just as beautiful and important as nature. Neurodiversity is natural, like us.

• Theresa’s Instagram
• Theresa’s Website
• Catlin Gabel’s Website

Being Human

My vision for the TriMet bus wrap was to create a dynamic and colorful representation of disability pride, conveying a sense of movement and energy. The artwork features diverse individuals with various disabilities engaging in sports, arts, education, and advocacy. These figures represent people that I either know personally or have admired from afar. My goal was to promote positive representation of people with disabilities as multi-dimensional humans, with more than one identity, capable of greatness, and with the ability to lead fulfilling lives. Using a vibrant and inclusive color palette that reflects the diversity of the disability community, I also incorporated the disability pride flag stripes and colors. The stripes are also a nod to transit routes and TriMet’s former branding. Judy Heumann, a disability rights advocate, inspired the title of this piece.

• Melissa’s Website
• Melissa’s LinkedIn Profile

La Cultura Cura

In my design for Hispanic Heritage month the central theme is movement. I used jaguar print on one side, and a feathered serpent on the other, both representing important spiritual aspects of our culture. I then added architectural elements into each side grounding the design in how we’ve built up our customs on Earth. On the back where the two designs connect, I included an ancient symbol “Ollin” which represents movement. Staying in motion is what propels us into the future and gets us where we need to be. It is how the ancient cultures which I drew inspiration from merged and evolved into what we now think of when we hear the word Hispanic.

In my path I always strive to remember and honor my past. This artwork is my heartfelt contribution in celebration of Hispanic heritage.

• Daniel’s Instagram