Salem Peace Mosaic on the corner of YMCA building is at risk

Capi Lynn | Statesman Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption VIDEO: Looking back on the creation of the Salem Peace Mosaic The Salem Peace Mosaic was created on the wall of a building on the corner of Court and Cottage streets NE between downtown and the State Capitol.

The mosaic mural on the corner of Court and Cottage streets NE is eye-catching, with a kaleidoscope of color and a perfect blend of whimsy and reflection.

It features two trees of life with sculpted heads of animals and people, a river of glass with peace spelled out in other languages, and the magical words of a former Oregon Poet Laureate.

It is considered a community treasure, a 60-foot-long symbol of our city's name, derived from the Hebrew word shalom, which means peace.

And its future is uncertain.

The mosaic hugs a brick building scheduled for demolition in February. The building has 18 units of affordable housing and is owned by the YMCA, which is preparing for construction of a new facility.

There are no plans to incorporate the mosaic into the new design of the Y.

"What is important is to let the public know that the artwork is at risk," said Lynn Takata, the artist behind the project and a burgeoning "Save the Salem Peace Mosaic" campaign.

"The mosaic is very meaningful to many people in our community and that artwork provides a positive message in a divisive time."

The official title is "River of Peace."

The mosaic can be preserved, but it's likely to be spendy.

An assessment and analysis by a Portland conservator estimated it would cost a staggering $350,000 to $440,000 to remove, protect, transport and reinstall the mural.

That’s more than 10 times what it cost to create.

Takata believes the mosaic can be stabilized and moved for at least 75 percent less than the initial estimate, which would put the cost in the $100,000 range.

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The city of Salem owns the mosaic, which was dedicated in August 2011. It is one of about 100 pieces of artwork in the city's collection, which is overseen by the Salem Public Art Commission. Neither has the resources to pay for such a project.

"We are the stewards of the city's collection, and this is part of it. We need to be part of the solution to the problem," said Chris D'Arcy of the Salem Public Art Commission. "The current price tag is so far beyond what we imagined. We have to be creative."

The city plans to post a Request for Proposal (RFP) for services Monday, July 30, on the Oregon Procurement Information Network (ORPIN). Its hope is the competitive contracting bid process will lead to less expensive strategies to preserve the mosaic. The RFP closes Aug. 24.

Even if the cost is lowered, other funding sources will have to be tapped.

The recommendation from the Architectural Resources Group involves installation of stabilization and structure support front and back before moving the mural in two large concrete sections with the mosaic still attached to the supporting concrete walls.

At the corner, the wall would be cut in an L shape so the mural remains continuous as it is currently.

The alternative would be to move the mosaic in five to six sections, which may be more cost-effective up front but require more repair and conservation work later.

The company offered in its 24-page report examples of other mosaic pieces being successful removed and reinstalled across the country.

What makes the Salem Peace Mosaic a complex project is that it’s a public work of art on a privately-owned building. The YMCA approved of the installation and received a $4,000 grant from the Oregon Arts Commission for the project.

At the time, it was billed as a community-building art experience for underserved youth, adults, and low-income seniors. According to a copy of the grant agreement, the project received a total of $15,000 in donations and grants, plus more than $17,000 in in-kind donations and services.

Funding also came from the Salem Art Association Gallery Guides, Salem Fellowship of Reconciliation, and several churches.

It is not known how much the mosaic is worth. When the city's collection was appraised for insurance purposes, it was not assigned a value.

Neither was Eco-Earth, another public mosaic project with an entirely different set of problems. But that’s a column for another day.

The true value in the peace mosaic is its meaning and how it was created.

More than 600 people, ages 3 to 85, participated in the creation of the mosaic. Workshops were held throughout the Mid-Valley. All walks of life pitched in from students to professional artists, from church members to incarcerated youth.

Some painted tiles. Others wrote poetry. Generations worked on it together, including grandparents and their grandchildren.

Takata, a renowned mural and ceramic artist, guided the project and the placement of more than 26,000 tiles, transforming a downtown wall into a community mural depicting peace.

"You don't plan a mosaic for something that’s going to stay up for a few years," she said. "So much time is involved, hours per square inch. It's very labor intensive."

At the time, no one imagined the mural being temporary, although for many years it's been common knowledge the YMCA has been planning for a new facility.

Takata said she has discussed the future of the mosaic with YMCA and city officials, including Mayor Chuck Bennett, always reiterating she's not opposed to a new YMCA building.

"The YMCA is a cornerstone of the downtown and provides important social services, healthy activities and support for our diverse community," Takata said. "Saving the mosaic and building a new YMCA are not opposing goals. We want a win-win solution."

Several people have written letters and posted passionate pleas on Facebook to save the mosaic.

Madalena Martin was a student at North Salem High School when Takata gathered a group of art students to brainstorm ideas for the mural. The result was a whimsical tree of life with carved faces representing the community.

"It changed my life," said Martin, adding that she felt empowered during a time in her life when she lacked motivation at school and stability at home. "The pride I felt was indescribable and shot me down a path of further community involvement and artistic expression."

Another former North Salem student, Brenda Rojas, described how the mosaic project gave her something to look forward to and helped her battle depression and anxiety.

"My classmates and I grew close and learned a lot about teamwork and what it means to be a part of something amazing," Rojas said. "It gave me a sense of belonging."

She is saddened by the thought of the mosaic being demolished.

"I know that as a community we came together to build it, we can come together once again to save it," Rojas said.

Removing the mural from the wall by simply cutting into the thin layer of mortar was not an option recommended by the Architectural Resources Group. That method would most likely result in significant damage to the mural.

The group instead recommended to install structural support on the back of the wall and the front of the mural, and then cover the mosaic with canvas or cheesecloth set with reversible adhesive to prevent tile loss in case of cracking or shifts, a minimum of two inches of thick foam for cushioning, and a layer of minimum half-inch thick plywood.

The estimated time for preparation, removal, and transport to a climate-controlled storage space is approximately 3-4 weeks.

A relocation site has yet to be determined, but some have recommended the Peace Plaza at Civic Center, soon-to-be-remodeled Salem Public Library, or next to Eco-Earth at Riverfront Park.

"It deserves to have a future in a public place where pedestrian traffic is heavy," said Jane Cummins-Fidler, president of the Salem Art Association Gallery Guides. "This is a piece that needs to be seen up close. Children love the animals. Some enjoy reading the poetry. Others marvel at the overall design and composition."

Takata this week delivered copies of supportive notes left during the Salem Art Fair & Festival by more than 100 people at the "Save the Salem Peace Mosaic" table.

One person wrote how he regularly walked by the mosaic while living on the streets.

"It turned my whole day/attitude around," he said.

“Forward This” highlights the people, places, and organizations of the Mid-Willamette Valley. Contact Capi Lynn at clynn@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-399-6710, or follow her the rest of the week on Twitter @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ.