Emerald Asks: What Are Your Favorite Murals in the South End?

by Emerald Staff

Murals are infused with meaning. More than decorations on a building’s exterior, murals represent and reflect the community. That’s why the Emerald asked readers this month: What are your favorite murals in the South End?

Before artist Lawrence Pitre designed and painted a mural outside of Northwest Tap Connection on Rainier Avenue South, the studioโ€™s executive and artistic director, Melba Ayco, talked with him for two hours about the studioโ€™s mission and purpose.

The result is an original painting with the words โ€œHard times require furious dancing,โ€ featuring four dancers in the foreground of an African village with a playground. They all dance on wooden boards, just as tap dancers at Northwest Tap Connection would.

โ€œHe really listened to what we are,โ€ Ayco said. โ€œSo when people come in to our studio, we feel itโ€™s very representative of what our values are here.โ€

Emerald readers shared some of their favorite murals from around the area, each with an artist or community behind it and each infused with meaning.

Hereโ€™s what readers shared.

Northwest Tap Connection

8732 Rainier Ave. S.

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Lawrence Pitre worked with Northwest Tap Connection to create the mural outside the studio on Rainier Avenue South. (Photo: Aaron Burkhalter)

Dragon Auto Repair and Transmission

2901 17th Ave. S.

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Will Schlough designed the mural that sits across the street from the Beacon Hill Library. (Photo: Aaron Burkhalter)

King Donuts

9232 Rainier Ave. S.

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Mural by Janeesha Leadingfighter. โ€œIt’s a real placeโ€ reads a sign at King Donuts, the combination doughnut shop, teriyaki restaurant and laundromat. (Photo: Aaron Burkhalter)

Safeway

3900 S. Othello St.

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โ€œInflorescence,โ€ by Ari Glass and Craig Cundiff, stretches across the side of the Safeway at Othello Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way. (Photo: Aaron Burkhalter)

Franklin High School

3013 S. Mt. Baker Blvd.

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Franklin High School Art of Resistance and Resilience Club students created this 40-foot mural honoring the Black Panther Party outside of the school track on Rainier Avenue South. (Photo: Aaron Burkhalter)

Seattle Cannabis Co

7266 Rainier Ave. S.

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Murals by artist Paul Drum cover two sides of Seattle Cannabis Co. on South Othello Street and Rainier Avenue South. (Photo: Aaron Burkhalter)
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Murals by artist Paul Drum cover two sides of Seattle Cannabis Co. on South Othello Street and Rainier Avenue South. (Photo: Aaron Burkhalter)

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Featured Image: Lawrence Pitreโ€™s mural at Northwest Tap Connection on Rainier Avnue South. (Photo: Aaron Burkhalter)

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