Local artists shape new community spaces: OC42 and Home Forward welcome new art
Office of Planning and Construction
The next chapter of Portland Community College’s Opportunity Center at 42nd Avenue (OC42) is taking shape through public art.
Following a public call for artists, new artwork is coming to OC42 and Home Forward’s adjacent affordable housing community, chaku kumtuks haws. Together, the two partners are bringing artwork to both spaces that reflects the people they serve and creates a stronger sense of belonging.
For PCC Project Specialist Sherry Durfey, the project reflects one way the Office of Planning and Construction (OPC) supports new and renovated spaces across the college. Along with managing the design and construction of capital projects, OPC oversees the public art selection process for eligible projects – bringing together community voices, project partners, and local artists to create spaces that feel welcoming and connected.
“Art in a space can provide a non-verbal way to communicate a space’s intended use,” Durfey said. “We hope visitors notice the art and feel welcomed before they even engage with anyone in these spaces.”
OC42 serves as a hub for workforce training, education, and community services, while Home Forward’s neighboring chaku kumtuks haws provides affordable housing with on-site early learning, community gathering spaces, and other resident amenities. Because the two share a common mission, they are also sharing a vision for public art that creates a welcoming experience across both sites.
For PCC construction projects of this scale, one percent of the construction budget is reserved for the public art procurement process. An art selection committee – including building users, PCC faculty, project staff, community partners, and design professionals – works together to develop the values and goals for the public art commission prior to artist proposals. The committee then evaluates submitted proposals and selects artwork that reflects the values and goals of the communities represented in each space.
“We hoped to reach artists from Northeast Portland and the Cully neighborhood,” Durfey said. “It’s important that the art be representative of the people who work in these spaces, visit for educational or social services, or simply pass by as part of their daily lives.”
For Durfey, one of the most meaningful parts of the process has been building relationships through a shared appreciation for community spaces.
“The satisfaction that comes from beautifying spaces is incredibly rewarding,” she said. “I hope people see something that feels familiar or meaningful to them – something that gives them a sense that they belong there or are in a safe place.”
As artwork is selected and installed, it will become another way OC42 and chaku kumtuks haws support the people who learn, work, live, and gather there – creating spaces that are as welcoming as they are functional.