Sam Strain Designed and is Leading the Mural Project
By Loni Rahm
Where some see a blank wall, others see a blank canvas.
A new work of art is being added to a downtown Chelan building. The Outlaw Restaurant used to abut the south side of the North Cascades Bank Building on Sanders Street, but after the restaurant was demolished a few weeks ago, the remaining bank wall was a large expanse of grey cinder block.
The property, owned by North Cascades Bank, will eventually be used for a bank remodel. Building plans are in process, but no start date has been established. In the meantime, the bank temporarily converted the space into a parking lot.
Kyla Allen, Senior Vice President of Retail Banking and Marketing, indicated they wanted to do some sprucing up in the space until the remodel starts.
They added flower planters and the bank’s Creative Services Coordinator, Sam Strain (pictured above), designed a mural representative of the uplake view from the old bridge.
Strain recruited help from several other staff members who painted the mural over the weekend.
The North Cascades Bank mural will be in good company. The Lake Chelan Arts Council has produced a walking tour map of the nearly 30 murals and sculptures which comprise a unique outdoor gallery throughout Chelan.
