Artists Present Tribute Art To MAX Stabbing Victims

By April Baer (OPB)
Feb. 1, 2018 12:42 a.m.
Muralists Zack Yarrington and Mehran Heard (who signs murals as Eatcho) present a concept design to Trimet's advisory committee for the Hollywood Transit Center Tribute.

Muralists Zack Yarrington and Mehran Heard (who signs murals as Eatcho) present a concept design to Trimet's advisory committee for the Hollywood Transit Center Tribute.

April Baer / OPB

Trimet is getting close to choosing an artist to create a memorial for the victims of last year's MAX train stabbing.

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In May 2017, two men were stabbed to death on a Portland light rail train after they engaged with a man who was shouting racial slurs.

Public response to the incident included a massive spontaneous memorial at the Hollywood Transit Station, near where the attack occurred.

The transit agency intends to fund the creation of a permanent public memorial at the site.

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Mohamed Alyajouri, of the Muslim Educational Trust, is a member of the advisory committee. The group has talked about several common values, he said at a Wednesday meeting.

Related: Judge Unseals MAX Train Stabbing Suspect's Mental Health Evaluation

The most common overarching theme has been community, moving forward —  what’s the city and the community doing to acknowledge it, but also move forward in a positive direction to say no to hate," Alyajouri said.

Four artist teams made presentations today.

The advisory committee will likely choose one of them Thursday to move forward with the committee in creating a final design.

The finalists are:

  • Rather Severe (muralists Travis Czehalski and Jon Strommel)
  • Photographer Julie Keefe, hip-hop emcee Mic Crenshaw, educator Deborah "Majik" Hodges and musician and artist Larry Yes
  • Muralists Zack Yarrington and Mehran Heard, also known as Eatcho
  • Sarah Farahat

All concept art presented Wednesday made extensive use of color. Several of the presentations also suggested a reference to Taliesin Namkai-Meche's last words: "Tell everyone on this train I love them."

Trimet will observe a remembrance day May 26. A plaque remembering the victims will be in place at that time, but the artwork will be created on a longer timeline.

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