The mural was on the side of the House of Umoja building on the corner of 17th and Alberta Street. Umoja is Swahili for "unity" and is also one of the seven guiding principles of Kwanzaa. I found out later that the House of Umoja was a non profit organization and mentorhsip program aimed at helping former gangmembers with job and life skills, assist with addiction treatments and job opportunities. Very admirable.
Across the street from House of Umoja was a store that caught our eye.
TC was attracted by all of their art supplies and crafts...
Collage was an arts and crafts store with tons of great craft ideas like stamping, jewelry making, cards, as well as a plethora of art supplies.
These handmade pendants were pretty cool. I bought a few rectangular pendants at the counter as gifts.
This table was also beckoning to me...little glasses full of jewelry findings.
I bought three pairs of kidney hooks (a wire with a loop in the front where you can hang components) and three pairs of flower drops (two silver and one bronze).
I believe the earrings hooks were .50 each and the drops were $1 each.
Pretty easy and cheap to boot. $3 per pair, eh.
TC bought a few of these clear glass bubbles that she wanted to make into pendants. You customize them by gluing an image to the flat side of the glass. She also bought a few other little art supplies for her drawings.
Collage
1639 NE Alberta
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 249-2190
collagepdx.blogspot.com
More info here on the murals of Portland:
"Swastika appears on mural" (Portland Skanner, May 2003) looks like the swastika has since been cleaned off of Malcolm X, but graffiti still remains
Time and Vandals take toll on Portland Murals (The Oregonian, January 2011)
waymarking.com (more views of the Malcolm X mural)
and the House of Umoja:
"House of Umoja bounces back (Mental Health Association of Portland, Nov. 2009)
Dessert was next on the agenda...
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