THREADS

The stairwell mural for Echoes of Time: The Threads That Connect Us is a tribute to the rich history, natural beauty, and cultural heritage of  Milwaukie, Oregon. This mural is an immersive narrative woven with  symbols that honor the land, its people, and the passage of time— celebrating the interconnectedness of past, present, and future. 

At the heart of this piece is the Pacific dogwood tree, a symbol of  resilience and identity for the city. Once, Milwaukie was home to the  world’s largest Pacific dogwood, a towering presence that stood over 65  feet tall with a seven-foot-wide trunk. In 1962, this remarkable tree  inspired the city’s official moniker, “The Dogwood City of the West.”  The mural pays homage to this legacy, recognizing the deep roots that  shape a place and its people. 

Bing cherries, another essential part of Milwaukie’s story, represent the  region’s agricultural innovation. Cultivated in 1878 by pioneer  nurseryman Seth Lewelling, the Bing cherry was named after Ah Bing, a  Chinese orchard worker whose contributions were vital yet often  overlooked in historical narratives. Their story is a reflection of the  hands that have long tended this land—immigrants, laborers, and  visionaries who have left a lasting imprint. 

The passage of time, represented by cascading waterfalls. Water serves  as a visual representation for how history and stories continue to move,  shaping the present while carrying echoes of the past. 

Nestled beneath the dogwood trees is a traditional plank house, paying  tribute to the Clackamas people, the Chinookan-speaking Indigenous  group who have lived in this region since time immemorial. These  cedar-plank homes were not only places of shelter, but also centers of  community and culture. These homes reflect the deep relationship between the first people of the Clackamas region, and the abundant land  and waterways of the Pacific Northwest. 

A covered wagon, bursting with fruit trees, represents Seth Lewelling’s  pioneering spirit and the agricultural abundance he helped cultivate.  When the Lewelling family arrived in Milwaukie from Iowa in 1847,  they brought a combination of over 700 varieties of seeds, grafted fruit  trees, berries and nuts. This journey would turn out to be the foundation  for the region’s thriving agriculture and fruit industry. This imagery  speaks to the boundless potential carried by those who journeyed west in  search of a new home and a fertile future. 

Throughout the mural, woodland creatures appear, bringing a sense of  joy and wonder—especially for the younger generations who will walk  these stairwells. These animals, native to the area, invite curiosity and a  connection to nature, serving as gentle reminders that the land holds  stories beyond human history. 

Finally, Tomanowos, the Willamette Meteorite, looms as a symbol of the  ancient and the celestial. This massive 15.5-ton meteorite, the largest  ever found in North America, was discovered on Clackamas land before  being illegally removed in 1905. Now housed at the American Museum  of Natural History, it remains a poignant testament to displacement— both of people and sacred objects—and the ongoing dialogue about  reclamation and respect for Indigenous heritage. 

By blending archival imagery with nature-inspired elements, this mural  invites viewers to engage with history in a meaningful way while  reflecting on the threads from long ago that continue to connect us all.

SPECIAL THANKS:  

Cameron would like to extend her gratitude to the following: 

• Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde 
• The Museum of Flight 
• Oregon Historical Society  
• Oregon Encyclopedia  
• Oregon Queen History Collective 
• Walt Luelling  
• Clackamas Arts Alliance 
• Miracle Sign Co. 
• Raziah Roushan