[OMS_MANAGERS] NEWS: Unveiling of Four-Point Wayfinder Sign Celebrates North Bend’s Downtown Diversity and Culture

Mon Oct 14 08:25:22 PDT 2024

Congratulations Stephanie! So excited to see this from concept to
completion.

Megan Dompe
Director of Coburg Main Street
PO Box 2875
Coburg, Oregon 97408
(541)913-6570

"Start where you are,
Use what you have,
Do what you can."
- Arthur Ashe
[image: Outlook-oqfl5f5k.png]

On Mon, Oct 14, 2024 at 8:19 AM STUART Sheri * OPRD <
Sheri.STUART at oprd.oregon.gov> wrote:

> I love this so much! The concept, story of the artists, and actual sign is
> wonderful. Thank you for sharing over the listserv!!!
>
>
>
>
>
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/725+Summer+St+NE,+Ste+C+%0D%0A+Salem,+Oregon+97301?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
> *Sheri Stuart **(she, her, hers) *|  Oregon Main Street Coordinator
>
>
> *___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
>
> Oregon Heritage, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
>
> Desk:  (503)986-0679 cell: (503)551-3705
>
> 725 Summer St NE, Ste C
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/725+Summer+St+NE,+Ste+C+%0D%0A+Salem,+Oregon+97301?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
> Salem, Oregon 97301
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/725+Summer+St+NE,+Ste+C+%0D%0A+Salem,+Oregon+97301?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
>
>
> Visit our website <http://www.oregonheritage.org/>, Like us on Facebook
> <https://www.facebook.com/OregonHeritage>, Visit our Blog
> <http://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/>, Join the Oregon Heritage News
> e-news <https://omls.oregon.gov/mailman/listinfo/Heritage> Check our
> LinkedIn
> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/oregon-parks-and-recreation-department/>
> .
>
>
>
> *From:* OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> *On Behalf Of
> *David Milliron
> *Sent:* Saturday, October 12, 2024 4:26 PM
> *To:* Oregon Main Street Network Members <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
> *Subject:* [OMS_MANAGERS] NEWS: Unveiling of Four-Point Wayfinder Sign
> Celebrates North Bend’s Downtown Diversity and Culture
>
>
>
> *NORTH BEND, Ore.* — North Bend’s Main Street program proudly unveiled
> its Four-Point Wayfinder Sign on Friday afternoon at the North Bend Visitor
> Information Center, 745 California Ave
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/745+California+Ave?entry=gmail&source=g>.
> The vibrant sign serves as a unique guide for locals and visitors, pointing
> to key downtown destinations while celebrating the rich cultural diversity
> and artistic talent within the community.
>
> The Four-Point Wayfinder Sign exemplifies the National Main Street’s
> Four-Point Approach: Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion, and
> Organization. Each directional arrow represents one of these pillars,
> connecting visitors to important downtown landmarks and telling the story
> of North Bend through local art and history.
>
> *Sign Posts: Guiding the Way to North Bend’s Best*
> The Four-Point Wayfinder Sign features four key directional arrows, each
> pointing to a downtown location that reflects North Bend’s thriving
> community. Each sign was crafted by a local artist, adding personal and
> cultural meaning to the project.
>
>    - *Promotion Arrow (Orange)*: Designed by *Margarita Grooms*, a
>    minority artist originally from Phoenix, Arizona, the promotion arrow
>    points to *Grant Circle*, the heart of local events such as parades,
>    festivals, and community gatherings. Grooms, a military veteran and
>    business student at Southwestern Oregon Community College, drew inspiration
>    from her experience in hospitality and community-building. Her design
>    reflects her love for bringing people together and celebrates the vibrant
>    community spirit that thrives in North Bend.
>    - *Design Arrow (Green)*: Created by *Blaise Barshaw*, a senior artist
>    who is known for his murals and hand-drawn greeting cards, the green arrow
>    guides visitors to the historic *Liberty Theatre*. Barshaw, who
>    painted the well-known octopus mural at the Walmart entrance, was inspired
>    by the theatre’s role as a cultural hub in downtown revitalization. His
>    design emphasizes the importance of arts in shaping the visual identity of
>    the community and highlights the theatre as a space where the arts and
>    local history come together.
>    - *Organization Arrow (Yellow)*: Crafted by 10-year-old *Mikalai
>    Kuliashou*, a youth artist from Belarus, the yellow arrow points to
>    the *North Bend Public Library*, symbolizing community engagement and
>    inclusion. Mikalai, who sold his first painting at the age of 5, is deeply
>    inspired by the role of libraries in providing knowledge and fostering
>    creativity. His design reflects a sense of wonder and curiosity, qualities
>    that the library nurtures in the local community, making it a key part of
>    North Bend’s organizational framework.
>    - *Economic Vitality Arrow (Blue)*: Designed by *Veronika Akhramovich*,
>    a local female artist, the blue arrow directs visitors to the *Downtown
>    Business District*, showcasing the economic energy of North Bend.
>    Veronika, who has created art installations across the streets of Coos Bay
>    and North Bend, is passionate about the role of art in social and cultural
>    expression. Her work for the Economic Vitality arrow is inspired by the
>    resilience of local businesses and the economic heartbeat that sustains
>    North Bend’s downtown area. Through her art, she captures the essence of
>    entrepreneurship and community growth.
>
> *The Wayfinder Post: A Piece of North Bend’s History*
> The post supporting the Wayfinder Sign was created from a tree sourced
> from * Simpson Park*, a site of historical significance in North Bend.
> Purchased by Asa M. Simpson in 1855, the park has served many purposes over
> the years, from a ball field to an auto camp. While some of the park’s
> trees have suffered decay or storm damage over time, the Main Street
> program saw an opportunity to repurpose one of the trees marked for
> removal, transforming it into the post for the Wayfinder Sign. This careful
> crafting and preservation reflect North Bend’s dedication to honoring its
> natural history while embracing new possibilities for placemaking and
> community engagement.
>
> *Diversity in the Arts*
> The Wayfinder Sign is a celebration of diversity, featuring work from
> artists of various backgrounds. Each arrow was designed by a local artist
> representing different groups in the community, ensuring that multiple
> perspectives and stories are shared through the sign. From minority artists
> to youth and senior creators, the sign reflects North Bend’s commitment to
> inclusiveness and cultural representation in its public projects.
>
> *Sponsors and Supporters*
> The Wayfinder Sign was made possible thanks to the generous support of *Oregon
> Main Street*, *AARP*, and *the City of North Bend*. AARP awarded the Main
> Street program a $3,000 grant to fund the project after North Bend Main
> Street showcased a mock-up of the project at the Oregon Main Street
> Conference in 2023. The Main Street program is deeply grateful for the
> continued support of these organizations in bringing the vision of the
> Four-Point Wayfinder Sign to life.
>
> For more information about the Four-Point Wayfinder Sign and other Main
> Street projects, visit the North Bend Main Street website at
> https://northbendoregon.us/wayfindersign
>
> *Contact:* Stephanie Wilson
> Community Development Manager
> City of North Bend
> 745 California Ave, North Bend, OR 97459
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/745+California+Ave,+North+Bend,+OR+97459?entry=gmail&source=g>
> Phone: (541) 756-4613
> Email: swilson at northbendcity.org
>
> *VIDEO:* https://www.facebook.com/NorthBendOregon/videos/1221471582513208
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/oms_managers/attachments/20241014/ef124851/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 45343 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/oms_managers/attachments/20241014/ef124851/attachment.jpg>