Art Seen: Seattle artists make plywood their canvas

Muralists reflect on the role of public art during pandemic isolation and social protests.

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Aileen Imperial

Aileen Imperial Jul 9, 2020

Jul 9, 2020

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            <header>
              <hgroup>
                <h1>Art Seen: Seattle artists make plywood their canvas</h1>
                <h2><p>Muralists reflect on the role of public art during pandemic isolation and social protests.</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/dflkjd-gmail-com/">Aileen Imperial</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Jul 9, 2020</time></p>
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            <p>At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Seattle artists began painting murals on boarded-up windows of businesses to deter vandalism and beautify the neighborhoods. And as social isolation evolved into a social movement protesting racial injustice and the killing of Black people by police, artists continued to take the streets with spray cans and paintbrushes. In this video, a few of the many artists who have painted messages of heartbreak and hope reflect on the role of art amid social upheaval.</p>
          </article>

At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Seattle artists began painting murals on boarded-up windows of businesses to deter vandalism and beautify the neighborhoods. And as social isolation evolved into a social movement protesting racial injustice and the killing of Black people by police, artists continued to take the streets with spray cans and paintbrushes. In this video, a few of the many artists who have painted messages of heartbreak and hope reflect on the role of art amid social upheaval.

By Aileen Imperial

Aileen Imperial is a multimedia and documentary producer with a commitment to thoughtful observation and engagement.&nbsp;Her work has aired nationally on the PBS American Masters series, the PBS