Street artist Ernesto Maranje paints outside the lines in Portland, 2016

Awareness and Prevention Through Art aptART are back again with another worthy street art project titled ‘Paint outside the lines’, an international street art campaign, highlighting the importance of inclusive and diverse communities.

While past ‘Paint Outside the Lines’ projects have focused on communities in conflict-affected areas, the developing racism and fear mongering in the U.S has compelled action. The first initiative in the U.S, finds them in Portland and aptArt will work with different communities and groups to create murals in four locations throughout the city.

Through workshops and collaborative public art the campaign will address the rise of opposition to refugees, racial tensions, homelessness, and Islamophobia in the United States. As demonstrated by the rhetoric of politicians, as well as both social and conventional media outlets, no society is immune to fracturing along ethnic, racial, class, or religious lines. This project gives voice to those who support an inclusive, tolerant and diverse planet, and who are working towards that goal.

Working closely with community groups, the murals will invite individuals from different backgrounds to come together and Paint Outside the Lines of race, religion, class and conflict.

The talented street artists who were invited to paint for ‘paint outside the lines’ are; Ruben Sanchez (Spain), Ernesto Maranje (U.S) and Kevin Ledo (Canada).

Ernesto Maranje was the first to paint a mural titled ‘ The Guardian’ . As the wealth divide in the United States grows, so does the number of people made homeless, many of them youth. To address the reality of growing economic gaps and the impact that divide has on all of society, a public conversation is needed. To help spark that conversation youth from p:ear worked with Ernesto Maranje to paint a public wall. The youth painted their identity and things of importance into the shapes of flowers. A larger than life tiger stands guard above the flowers, protecting them as they develop and grow in a dreamy underwater world. Next to the tiger a bird takes flight representing the potential all humans have if nurtured and protected. Elements of coral and sea life adorn the tiger, bird and flowers, highlighting the connection we all share regardless of where we come from or where we are going.

Ernesto Maranje, Paint outside the lines project, Portland. Photo credit aptART
Paint outside the lines project, Portland. Photo credit aptART
Paint outside the lines project, Portland. Photo credit aptART
Paint outside the lines project, Portland. Photo credit aptART
Ernesto Maranje, Paint outside the lines project, Portland. Photo credit aptART
Ernesto Maranje, Paint outside the lines project, Portland. Photo credit aptART
Ernesto Maranje, Paint outside the lines project, Portland. Photo credit aptART
Ernesto Maranje, Paint outside the lines project, Portland. Photo credit aptART

The walls will be lasting landmarks for participants and viewers to reflect on the value of inclusive communities.

Paint Outside The Lines is supported by the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC), Montana Cans (official), Mercy Corps, p:ear and IRCO.

 

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