Billy Davis
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Shepard Fairey is at work this week above 15th Ave E.
Artist Billy Davis just spent the past weeks here after a bout of graffiti vandalism inspired a clean-up of an old project.
The Sanctuary mural was created by Davis on the building constructed in 2000 for the neighborhood’s new Walgreens. The painting’s origin traces to another time of change for Capitol Hill. When the beloved local business City People’s closed and its owners sold the land to Walgreens, many neighbors pushed back on the development. One of the concessions was Sanctuary. Davis was selected to bring it to life.
“There was an outcry in the neighborhood,” Davis recalls, reflecting on the community’s reaction to the changes. “But Walgreens donated a wall to the community.”
The resulting mural was intended to reflect the sense of refuge and belonging that residents associate with their neighborhood, Davis said.
“The name ‘Sanctuary’ is a shout-out to the community,” Davis said this week as he completed word on an extensive restoration of the painting. “The tree in the mural is a kind of totem for the community and a reflection of dream time.”
The mural’s central image is a tree, symbolizing growth and interconnectedness. It is adorned with details, including an open hand (representing giving and receiving), a creature feeding birds, and subtle nods to the cycle of life and death.
“I didn’t want the mural to be pigeonholed,” Davis says. “It evolved organically. The idea is that you can find yourself or see yourself in the mural.”
Across the street, meanwhile, a more widely known artist is working quickly.
Capitol Hill-based developer Hunters Capital announced that artist and OBEY designer Fairey is working on a mural on the tall south-facing wall of its newly completed Capitol Hilltop Apartments building.
The developer says it hopes the work “will become a landmark of artistic expression and community pride.”
(Image: CHS)
(Image: CHS)
“Shepard’s work has inspired me for years. I recall the first time seeing the ‘Obama Hope poster’ and getting chills down my spine,” Hunters president of development Michael Oaksmith said in the announcement of the mural project.
The building’s south side today is prominently exposed but that might not always be the case. The old commercial buildings neighboring the project could also eventually make way for new mixed-use, multi-story, multi-family development. Enjoy Fairey’s work while you can.
The rose mural presents a few peek-a-boo views up and down the 15th Ave E corridor but the best view of the work will likely need to wait until the next Hunters Capital development is completed. The developer is preparing for demolition and groundbreaking next year on the block currently home to the 1904-built Moore Family building and the former QFC grocery to make way for a planned 6-story, “S” design project with 170 new apartment units above 10,000 square feet of retail space and underground parking for 99 vehicles.
On 15th Ave E, things have changed since the year 2000. Back then, there was a concerted effort to fight the insertion of a big chain pharmacy into the neighborhood. Twenty years later, there have been few battles over the Hunters Capital developments and efforts to hold onto elements of the past like the old corner gas station. Instead, the debate has come down to how high the new developments should climb.
On the side of the neighborhood’s Walgreens, the Sanctuary mural has now become part of the street’s nostalgia.
“One person cried when they saw the graffiti, and someone said it was their favorite mural and they have photos of me here 19 years ago with their grandchildren,” Davis said. “Someone told me they moved into this neighborhood because of the mural.”
However, time and the elements had taken a toll on the mural. Fading colors and graffiti tags marred its surface. Walgreens approached Davis about the issue, offering two options: paint over the graffiti or fully refurbish the artwork.
While there is uncertainty about the future of big pharmacy chains in the neighborhood after the closures of Rite Aid and Bartell Drug locations here last year, Walgreens is committing to its art on 15th Ave E, at least. The company opted for a full restoration.
The work has also restored Davis’s connections to the street.
“The community has given a lot of feedback, which is fantastic,” Davis says. “It’s humbling to hear their stories and how the mural has impacted them.”
Davis’s works can be found in all sorts of interesting places across the city. The old Crocodile sign? That was his creation. While his murals are his most visible works, Davis also supports himself through glass painting, including a partnership with Whole Foods. His artistic contributions can be found throughout Capitol Hill from the Hideout to a unique gravestone for his grandfather.
But his biggest connection now has a new coat of paint and love in the 500 block of 15th Ave E.
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wow that Obey work is so 2012 core. im suprised they actually want that on the side of their building
I have no idea what “2012 core” means. Just because the artist is famous for art he did back then doesn’t mean he can’t keep making cool-looking art. I like it.
Love this. Celebrate art and stop tolerating graffiti.
graffiti is art
Hmmm. I agree that some graffiti is art. But if you own a building or you like walking around your neighborhood and see that someone has spray painted crap all over it, I don’t see that as art. I’ve actually paid Weirdo to paint a really cool panel that I love as art. I celebrate that. But random stuff that defaces my property or my community is not art. If someone painted their thoughts or name on your car or house or apartment of bike. Do you say “oh, I love that.” Hmmm. Maybe you do. But I don’t.
Absolutely mistaken I am afraid. While a small minority of graffiti has some artistic merit, the vast majority is just useless jumbled vandalism. Those who perpetrate and tolerate it diminish our community. Kudos to Hunters and Walgreens for enhancing the streetscape with actual artwork.
You are correct.
I read this article hoping it would finally resolve my burning (PUN) question of whether the monkey is smoking a joint. Sadly, it did not.
I guess that part is open to interpretation!
I was so sad when City Peoples closed, and even more sad when it was replaced by a suburban-style Walgreens with a parking lot out front. I do appreciate the convenience of having a drugstore in the neighborhood, but I sure wouldn’t mind if it were housed in the ground floor of a multistory building with affordable housing above, similar to the Walgreens at Broadway and Pine, built right out to the sidewalk with no surface parking.
If I recall correctly, that had kind of suburban development had also been the plan for Broadway and Pine, before community uproar forced a change. I’m glad something good happened there instead and it will be nice when the scar on 15th can be repaired as well.
I recall the same thing — Walgreens planned a similar suburban-style configuration at Broadway and Pine and the community wanted something better and more urban, and I was shocked when the big corporation actually listened. Maybe someday they’ll re-do it on 15th (or someone else will).
I was one of the neighbors at the time that ended up engaging with Walgreens when it was announced they would be replacing the City People’s store on 15th Ave. At the time there was misleading information about that site being replaced by a mixed-use building of 1st floor retail and upper floors residential which was desired by many of the neighbors, but the plans got moved to a ‘remodel’ instead which was achieved by demolishing most of the building and only leaving most of the north and east walls which also meant the development did not have to go through design review. We pushed back for as many concessions as we could get with Walgreens including the mural wall and the greenery along the east edge of the parking lot, but was all we could get on that development.
They shortly after announced the redevelopment of the gas station on the SW corner of Broadway and Pine next to the Egyptian and they were going to do a similar suburban style store on that lot, but fortunately the experience with the 15th Ave spot got the broader neighborhood engaged to push back on getting a true mixed-use building on that site with at the time relatively affordably priced apartments above as was much more fitting for the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Wow that’s a fascinating story. I didn’t realize the Walgreens lot used to be a gas station. Thank you for your service in ensuring we got the urban building we did!!
That Walgreens is going to close – empty shelves, one employee.
It’s really turned around in the last 1-1.5 years. Now they actually have stuff to sell you – still overpriced, but very convenient for me.
I have never seen the Sanctuary mural myself in person, but I have heard a lot about it and I am so happy to see that it’s being restored. The artist is extremely talented and his artwork is beautiful. I have seen some of his glass work at Whole Foods and am a huge fan. Thank you sharing your version of beauty with the world Billy Davis 😉