Multnomah County Library’s newly renovated North Portland branch includes a Black Cultural Center decorated with art from local artists Sadé DuBoise, Melanie Stevens and Kayin Talton Davis.
The Black Cultural Center boasts three significant art pieces as part of the library’s approximately 1,500-square-foot expansion. The entryway into the space and along the stairwell features a photo collage mural by Talton Davis, a wood-carved windowsill frame by Stevens, and a mural embedded into glass by DuBoise dominating the space.
Local muralist DuBoise created a permanent glass artwork on the west wall of the Black Cultural Center. DuBoise created the piece through sessions with the community to provide input as she developed the work that would live in the space. The result is a 12-foot tall and 16-foot wide blue celestial mural with a young girl at its center. The piece includes Ghanaian symbols, or Adinkra, representing proverbs and aphorisms, according to Multnomah County Library. The piece is a development of what was initially a 2D work by DuBoise. Upon closer look, the hands of the girl in the mural display transparent fingernails that give patrons a peek outside. The mural is meant to evoke a deep sense of connection, belonging and boundless possibility, according to DuBoise.
“I want viewers to feel inspired to imagine beyond the present, to embrace their power, and to know that their stories are not only valued but essential,” DuBoise said.
Stepping through a door, part of the mural takes you onto the new outdoor deck. The new outdoor area provides seating, and patrons can see the neighboring Jefferson High School from the space.
For DuBoise, the mural represents a full-circle moment. Born and raised in North Portland, she spent her childhood reading fiction and art books. DuBoise also credits her grandmother with introducing her to stained glass art and as someone who nurtured her creativity and artistic exploration.
“I want viewers to feel inspired to imagine beyond the present, to embrace their power, and to know that their stories are not only valued but essential.” — Sadé DuBoise
“This piece, being translated into glass, feels like a tribute to her and the artistic foundation she helped me build,” DuBoise said. “Her passing has made me reflect even more on the bigger meaning of creating something permanent — a legacy that will endure, just as her influence on me will always remain.”
DuBoise’s process was partly informed by community engagement sessions, where the inspiration for the Adinkra symbols originated, forming the mural’s constellations. In collaboration with the Regional Arts and Culture Council, or RACC, DuBoise’s piece was digitized and reproduced on the glass, creating a permanent art fixture in the cultural center.
“This artwork isn’t just mine; it belongs to everyone who sees themselves reflected in it and to those who helped shape its vision through our collaborative community engagement,” DuBoise said. She sees the themes of Afrofuturism in her work as a way to honor the past while envisioning expansive futures for Black people. “This piece reflects that by merging traditional African symbolism with a cosmic, otherworldly setting,” DuBoise said.
You may recognize DuBoise’s work from the Portland Art Museum’s 2023 Black Artists of Oregon Exhibition, where her piece, “The Collective Mourn” was shown.
Another piece adorning the center is a wood-relief sculpture by Stevens. Built into the interior windowsill facing North Commercial Avenue, the piece depicts portraits of four forebearers of the Afrofuturist literary movement: Octavia E. Butler, W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston and Sun Ra. Stevens is a printmaker and graphic novelist, and this new work, created with a CVC router on sapele wood, builds upon their existing practice.
Lastly, a mural adorns the library’s staircase and an entryway into the center. Using archival images of the Black community in North Portland and Afrofuturist themes in gold leaf, the mural welcomes patrons into the space, combining the historical significance of North Portland’s communities with celestial colors and themes. The images integrated into the piece depict a slice of everyday life in North Portland, with children laughing and smiling.
Artist Talton Davis also reflected on childhood memories at the North Portland library, where she still attends lectures and events as an adult. Talton Davis said her choice to use archival photos of Black Portlanders came from an intention to allow viewers to see themselves in her artwork.
“Using photographs really helps people to connect with it, especially for something that’s been in community for decades and generations,” Talton Davis said. One photo depicts young boys playing at the Peninsula Pool, and Talton Davis imagines they also occupied space at the library at some point.
“It’s part of a community,” she said. “It’s part of the historic Black community here of upper Albina, and so (I’m) thinking about it in that context and making sure that we have that representation as time marches forward.”
Ultimately, her work’s core is representation and an opportunity to inspire someone else. “While representation can exist in a private space, where better than loudly and publicly?” Talton Davis said.
You can also find Talton Davis’ recent work on display in the Portland Building. A photo-sculpture mural, “We’ve Been Here,” highlights Black women of the Northwest, even before Oregon’s statehood, acknowledging their contributions and long and significant history in the region.
Historical and cultural significance
The North Portland branch is situated in the historic Albina Neighborhood. Albina was once a thriving neighborhood for Black communities, but over time, gentrification, urban renewal and eminent domain have pushed out many Black residents. More recently, efforts are being made to share the neighborhood’s history and restore opportunities for Black residents.
The library’s renovations were executed with the cultural significance of the neighborhood in mind. In the planning stages, the library worked with the design teams LEVER Architecture and Noll & Tam Architects to gather feedback from the community. Through focus groups, virtual public meetings, and surveys with community members, they engaged over 3,500 people to inform their design decisions, according to Multnomah County Library. Community member votes determined the blue hues inspired by Afrofuturism, for instance.
Similarly, paid affinity focus groups were conducted, and local teens participated in the Youth Opportunity Design Approach, a paid program bringing together the project’s architects, youth librarians and teen patrons to share their insights on what would make the library an enjoyable place for them.
The library
Among the artwork, the renovated library has much to offer patrons. Upgrades include an early learning and play space for children, new collections, updated wi-fi and technology and more, according to Multnomah County Library. After having closed in May 2023, the reopening was highly anticipated by community members. You can visit the North Portland library at 512 N. Killingsworth St. seven days a week.
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This article appears in February 19, 2025.