New Artwork Welcomes Visitors to the Civic Center

Experience The Bridge of Love, the New Artwork Welcoming Visitors to the Hillsboro Civic Center

At the Hillsboro Civic Center, the first floor elevator doors now greet visitors with an incredible mural creating a connection to the community through art. A three-panel painting reproduced on vinyl wrap, titled The Bridge of Love, was created by Portland-based artist William Hernandez. Through his artwork Hernandez creates a bridge spanning his past traditions and memories to his life today as an artist, family man, and Peruvian living in the Pacific Northwest. His surreal subjects and his graphic, illustrative style create layered narratives infused with lingering emotions from whimsy to melancholy. According to Hernandez, “This work represents the spiritual and universal connection between the people who make up our community. My hope is that these images will instill the importance of inclusion and social support to the viewing public, as human relationships and love are vital to health and healing.” The City of Hillsboro assembles a team each year comprised of staff from various departments working together to create innovative solutions to challenges faced by the city. The 2019 team focused on ways to make public spaces more inviting and inclusive, while also looking at ways to remove barriers to accessing City services. Community Arts Program Supervisor Melissa Moore, who served on the team, says, “As public servants we recognize the need to make our services more accessible to all Hillsboro residents and that includes making our physical spaces comfortable and inviting.” After seeking community input, the team partnered with the Cultural Arts division of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation to bring colorful artwork to the Civic Center as a way to make the space more welcoming to Hillsboro’s diverse community.

“Making our public spaces warm, inviting, and colorful can make the difference in knowing you belong in your City’s government building. When diverse community members and cultures are reflected, it signals their importance.” – Robby Hammond, Hillsboro City Manager

, the New Artwork Welcoming Visitors to the Hillsboro Civic Center

Of the final selected artwork, City Manager Robby Hammond says, “Mr. Hernandez’s art is beautiful and highlights the importance of inclusion, connection, and relationships. The Bridge of Love is a great example of community members’ voices making our city better. Making our public spaces warm, inviting, and colorful can make the difference in knowing you belong in your city’s government building. When diverse community members and cultures are reflected, it signals their importance.” Trained as a painter at Lima’s Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes, Hernandez worked as an artist and graphic designer for public and international institutions in Lima before settling in Portland in 2009. Hernandez says of his painting style, “My creations are spontaneous and unannounced. Sometimes even surprising to myself. I weave together memories, experiences, lessons, loss, friendships, achievements, and feelings.” Along with his passion for painting, he is dedicated to teaching. Hernandez introduces the arts to students of all ages with private lessons from his studio and bilingual Spanish/English workshops for children with the VOZ Workers Rights Education Project in Portland, Oregon and SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) Community Schools in Multnomah County. Previous to relocating to Oregon, he was a painting instructor at the Museum of Art in Lima, Peru. Additionally, he is an organizer for the first Intercambio de Artistas Latinos (Latin American Artists Exchange), creating a network of artists in the Northwest sharing ideas, expression, and art. Hernandez’s work has been exhibited extensively in Peru, Oregon, and Washington, as well as in private collections worldwide. Learn more about Hernandez, as well as purchase and commission his work, on his website: WilliamHernandezArt.com.