Pullman Arts Foundation and our board members have been involved in many innovative public art projects in Pullman. Our completed projects include the 100-foot Riverside Mural, the Palouse Discovery Science Center mural by multi-tribal artist Lee Sekaquaptewa, and the End Racism Now mural, each demonstrating how public art can create meaningful dialogue. Through a lot of hard work with community partners, we’ve helped to establish Pullman as an emerging arts destination, earning both the WSU President’s Award for Leadership and Downtown Pullman Association’s Community Partner of the Year in 2023.
Riverside Mural (2023)
Our largest and most ambitious project to date, the 100-foot Riverside Mural represents a significant partnership between Pullman Arts Foundation and the Downtown Pullman Association. The project was organized by DPA’s Bobbie Ryder and PAF’s Joe Hedges, designed by Seattle-based artist Tori Shao, painted by Sarah Barnett, WSU Intermediate and Advanced Painting students and community volunteers, this transformative installation received over $30,000 in funding and showcases the collaborative spirit of our community while activating our historic waterfront.
End Racism Now Mural (2021)
Created in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, this impactful project was designed by Jiemei Lin and executed by a team including Project Manager: Joe Hedges and artists Sarah Barnett, Abiola Adekanbi and [Name needed]. The mural features the welcoming message “You are welcome here” alongside African poppies and elements that blend Palouse landscape motifs with symbols of solidarity. A successful crowdfunding campaign raised over $17,000 from hundreds of individual donors, demonstrating broad community support for making Pullman more inclusive.
Hotel McCoy Mural Series (2022-2023)
The Hotel McCoy’s artistic transformation features several distinct murals, three of which were designed and executed by PAF board members:
- Dutch Flowers Still Life: A monumental adaptation of Ambrosius Bosschaert’s masterwork, designed by Joe Hedges and executed by Joe Hedges, Sarah Barnett, and Autumn Hunnicutt. This three-story mural dramatically scales up traditionally intimate still life paintings, bringing art history to downtown Pullman.
- Modernist Grid: Designed by Jiemei Lin and painted by Jiemei Lin and Sarah Barnett
- Raincoat: Created and painted by Sarah Barnett
Palouse Discovery Science Center Mural (2022)
Designed by multi-tribal artist Lee Sekaquaptewa and managed by Sarah Barnett, this mural explores the intersection of indigenous knowledge and scientific understanding. The design features fish and microorganisms, emphasizing the importance of water to the Palouse landscape. This project exemplifies our commitment to diverse perspectives and cross-cultural dialogue. Additional painting by Shanda Lee Stinebaugh. With significant support from PDSC.
Early Projects
Jefferson Elementary School Murals (2016)
Our inaugural public art project in Pullman (before incorporating as Pullman Arts Foundation) featured two distinct murals: Partnership with Jefferson Elementary Parent Teacher Association
Jaguar Mural (Street-facing): Designed by Jiemei Lin
Cybercheckers Mural (Playground-facing): Designed by Joe Hedges
Both murals were painted by WSU intermediate and advanced painting students.
The design was selected through a democratic process involving elementary school students
Kamiak Elementary Mural (2019)
Funded by the Kamiak Elementary PTA, designed by Jiemei Lin, Joe Hedges and Kelsey Baker. This mural also featured interactive, temperature-sensitive paints created in at WSU chemistry lab and a visual representation/abstraction of the unique chemistry involved. An innovative collaboration between art and science, created before the opening of the new school:
- Kestrel Side: Designed by Jiemei Lin
- Reverse Side: Designed by WSU MFA Graduate Student Kelsey Baker with Joe Hedges
- Special Feature: Temperature-sensitive paint synthesized in WSU chemistry lab with Professor Amy Neilson and Aaron Hendricksen
- The design incorporated the molecular structure of the temperature-sensitive paint, creating an interactive educational experience for students.
