A permanent mural using both historic and contemporary examples of colors and symbols to illustrate an evolving culture.
Mural by Peter & Araquin Boome
Located at 10th & Pacific Ave.
Painted in 2021
Funded by City of Tacoma
Organized by Spaceworks Tacoma
Special thanks to Republic Parking
and REEF Technology
Description of Design Elements
Artist Statement
How do you make a statement without saying a word? That was the question father and son team of Peter and Araquin Boome posed themselves when approaching this mural. They wanted to make a statement, while remaining true to themselves and their artistic vision. As Coast Salish Artists Peter (Upper Skagit) and Araquin (Puyallup) didn’t want to jump on the latest issue or address a specific current event, instead, they wanted to help to bring light to issues of importance to them, either directly impacting their lives or the lives of people they know and love. They created a mural with multiple levels of meaning. One that the average person could view and see as an attractive image, a painting to beautify a public space. Others may see and understand the meanings behind the design, the complex interwoven story and relationships incorporated into the mural.
Image description: As part of the process, the Boomes invited women to stamp their handprints in red throughout the mural, to remember all missing and murdered Indigenous Women. Pictured here is Tribal Council member Anna Bean adding her handprint to the mural.
Overall, Peter and Araquin wanted to make the statement that we are still here, our culture is still alive even if not easily seen. The location of this mural is a perfect metaphor for that statement. It is a large mural that is hidden away, yet it is full of nuance and meaning. They used both historic and contemporary colors to illustrate an evolving culture, one tied to the past by not restricted by it. Their work is rooted in a historic design style, one that is the foundation of what they do. “We don’t copy old designs, instead we build upon that foundation to explore our realities and make visible what is so very often invisible to others.“
See more of Peter Boome’s work at: www.peterboome.com
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