Council approves 'Echoes of Belonging' public-art project at library

The Lake Oswego City Council on Oct. 7 approved the selection of artist Sahara Aylana DeFries to create a public-art installation at the Lake Oswego Public Library. The collaborative project involves Respond to Racism, the Arts Council of Lake Oswego (ACLO), and the library and is titled Echoes of Belonging.

Staff and project partners described a multi-year, community-centered process, including an equity-centered RFP, a 9-member selection panel (with majority-BIPOC representation), and public engagement steps. The approved concept includes four interpretive panels addressing historical topics (sundown-town history; restrictive covenants and redlining; Tumwatta and indigenous stewardship; communities of color) and a rain-activated sidewalk treatment featuring quotations from Black women authors and QR codes linking to multi-language written and audio narratives. The budget presented for the interpretive panels and sidewalk stamps is $31,000.

Council members asked about materials, durability, maintenance, ADA accessibility and placement near existing library features. Staff said they plan to finalize materials and placement with the artist, favoring durable metal panels with anti-graffiti coatings and a metal framing system. The project will include community paint-by-number events and public programs led by the artist. The council voted to approve the artist selection without amendment (voice vote recorded as 7-0).