We Choose Love
{{Short description|Memorial painting in Portland, Oregon, U.S.}}
{{Infobox artwork
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| image = File:Hollywood District, Portland, Oregon (2021) - 05.jpg
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| caption = The mural in 2021
| artist = Sarah Farahat
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| city = Portland, Oregon, U.S.
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We Choose Love was a memorial to the 2017 Portland train attack, located at the Hollywood/Northeast 42nd Avenue Transit Center in Northeast Portland, Oregon. TriMet commissioned the memorial in the aftermath of the May 2017 attack, selecting a design by Sarah Farahat in a contest. We Choose Love was completed in May 2018, and was in place until January 2024.{{Cite web |last=Ramakrishnan |first=Jayati |date=2024-01-10 |title=Memorial to 2017 MAX stabbings dismantled as construction begins on affordable housing, transit center revamp |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/2024/01/memorial-to-2017-max-stabbings-dismantled-as-construction-begins-on-affordable-housing-transit-center-revamp.html |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=The Oregonian |language=en}}
History
File:Portland Tri Met MAX stabbing vigil 1.jpg
On November 9, 2017, TriMet asked artists to propose "text-based" designs for a mural commemorating Ricky Best and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, who were killed in the 2017 Portland train attack. The mural was painted along the ramp walls of the Hollywood/Northeast 42nd Avenue Transit Center.{{cite news |date=November 11, 2017 |title='Tribute Wall' Will Honor Victims of Deadly Portland Train Attack |url=https://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-train-attack-memorial-tribute-wall-victims/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422132741/https://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-train-attack-memorial-tribute-wall-victims/ |archive-date=April 22, 2018 |accessdate=February 4, 2018 |work=Oregon Public Broadcasting |publisher=}} Submissions were due by November 29, and artists were determined by December 5. Concepts were due in January 2018, and final design plans are to be confirmed in late February or early March. Work on the "Tribute Wall" began on April 20,{{cite web |date=April 20, 2018 |title=Artist begins work on Hollywood Transit Center mural |url=http://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/393093-285686-artist-begins-work-on-hollywood-transit-center-mural |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818083906/https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/393093-285686-artist-begins-work-on-hollywood-transit-center-mural |archive-date=2018-08-18 |access-date=2021-04-20 |website=Portland Tribune |publisher=}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.koin.com/news/local/multnomah-county/artists-start-work-on-hollywood-max-attack-tribute/1131720522|title=Artists start work on Hollywood MAX attack tribute|last=Tilkin|first=Dan|date=2018-04-20|work=KOIN|access-date=2018-04-21|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421022216/http://www.koin.com/news/local/multnomah-county/artists-start-work-on-hollywood-max-attack-tribute/1131720522|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://news.trimet.org/2018/04/transformation-of-hollywood-transit-center-walls-gets-under-way/|title=Transformation of Hollywood Transit Center walls gets under way|date=2018-04-20|work=TriMet News|access-date=2018-04-21|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422062439/http://news.trimet.org/2018/04/transformation-of-hollywood-transit-center-walls-gets-under-way/|url-status=live}} and was scheduled to be completed by May 12, 2018.
File:Hollywood District, Portland, Oregon (2021) - 06.jpg
Sarah Farahat's design was selected by TriMet's tribute advisory committee from four finalists,{{cite news |last1=Barr |first1=Max |date=February 1, 2018 |title=TriMet selects design for tribute wall honoring MAX attack victims |url=http://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/trimet-selects-design-for-tribute-wall-honoring-max-attack-victims/283-513306131 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203184503/http://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/trimet-selects-design-for-tribute-wall-honoring-max-attack-victims/283-513306131 |archive-date=February 3, 2018 |accessdate=February 4, 2018 |work=KGW |publisher=}} all of whom drew inspiration from chalk messages left by people following the attack. Farahat's design includes sunflowers and an excerpt from Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish's poem, "Mural".{{cite news|title=Artist selected to create MAX attack memorial at Hollywood Transit Center|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/index.ssf/2018/02/artist_max_stabbing_memorial_hollywood.html|accessdate=February 4, 2018|work=The Oregonian|date=February 1, 2018|first=Elliot|last=Njus|archive-date=February 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205011034/http://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/index.ssf/2018/02/artist_max_stabbing_memorial_hollywood.html|url-status=live}} TriMet has confirmed plans to unveil a plaque on May 26, the anniversary of the attack. Farahat's design, We Choose Love, was completed in summer 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/one-year-later-memorial-dedicated-to-victims-of-max-attack/283-557919842|title=One year later, memorial dedicated to victims of MAX attack|work=KGW|access-date=2018-11-24|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125030758/https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/one-year-later-memorial-dedicated-to-victims-of-max-attack/283-557919842|url-status=live}} John Laursen was commissioned to create the plaque, which will be made of porcelain enamel and steel, and feature both images and text. In addition to Best and Namkai-Meche, the plaque will commemorate three other victims from the attack.
According to TriMet, the memorial honors Best and Namkai-Meche, "as well as recognize the courage of those who were targeted by and stood up to hatred and violence".
See also
{{Portal|Oregon|Visual arts}}
References
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External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://trimet.org/tribute/|title=Hollywood Transit Center Tribute|publisher=TriMet}}
{{Hollywood, Portland, Oregon}}
Category:2018 establishments in Oregon
Category:Hollywood, Portland, Oregon
Category:Monuments and memorials in Portland, Oregon