2023 Mural - Tell Your Story
We want your opinion! Please review the three mural concepts below, including each mural narrative provided by the artist Raeghan Buchanan, then provide feedback using the form at bottom. Please take the time to read each narrative, as it provides important context for the artist’s design.
Need a refresher on the project details? You can find it here. Please see the FAQs at the bottom of this page for additional information.
Raeghan Buchanan
@peppermint_raygun
I’m inspired by history and literature, music, my family, and all the artists that I know doing beautiful and meaningful work around me.
Some of my favorite books are Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, and The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I love anything biographical, especially if it’s about Black historical figures. I’m currently reading Shotgun Seamstress: The Complete Zine Collection by Osa Atoe, and Native Son by Richard Wright. My favorite bands are usually in some sort of punk, post-punk, hardcore, or folk goth category. When I work, I sometimes throw on random coldwave playlists in languages I don’t understand, so that I don’t become too distracted.
I’m very happy to be selected as a finalist! It’s exciting and encouraging as an emerging artist to feel that people have enough confidence in your work to trust you with such an important and visible project.
I have had so much fun doing the murals that I’ve been on so far, and I love learning new techniques for muralling. I enjoy working outside while interacting with people from neighborhoods who appreciate the new art. I see that murals effect communities when they have a real message, and I want to be a part of that. It’s funny because I’ve started to see every blank wall around town as a canvas!
-Raeghan Buchanan
Mural Concept - 1
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This mural depicts different people energetically exchanging stories and listening to each other talk. The “Tell Your Story” text is to encourage the Hilltop neighborhoods to know or remember that everyone’s personal story is unique and relevant, and deserves to be told.
Mural Concept - 2
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This mural depicts a lively mix of elements to convey the exchange of ideas, through a sort of mechanical device that converges art, music, science, and writing. It is meant to celebrate the many forms of expression that stories can be told through.
Mural Concept - 3
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This mural is a collage of people living their stories, in real-time, through everyday actions: playing cards, messaging friends, skateboarding, waiting, and people watching. Here it depicts the relevance of living your story day to day, in the small moments.
We Want to Hear from You!
We want your opinion! Review the three mural concepts from this year’s mural finalist Raeghan Buchanan, then provide feedback using the form. Please take the time to read each narrative, as it provides important context for the artist’s design.
FAQs
Q: What’s this all about?
A: Every year, Hilltop Arts Collective commissions a major public art installation as part of our annual festival, Summer Jam West. You can learn more about this year’s mural project here. You can check out past installations here.
Q: Is community input open to anyone?
A: Yes! However, we’re particularly interested in feedback from Hilltop residents. We will look at results overall, and results based on zip code.
Q: What do you do with this feedback?
A: Our board will use the comments and selections provided by community members to help us make our decision on which mural design we choose for the commission.
Q: Why are there only three concepts to choose from?
A: If you’ve followed our process in years past, you know there would be many options to choose from. We used a different process this year, which was meant to be more fair to artists. We received 50 applications this year, and from there, we selected one finalist who we asked to create 3 mural concepts, which is what you’re seeing here.