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Murals transform Seattle's boarded up businesses: 'Hope is not cancelled'

caption: Artist B Line Dot works on a mural on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, along First Avenue South in Seattle. The completed mural reads, "Keep Dreaming."
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Artist B Line Dot works on a mural on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, along First Avenue South in Seattle. The completed mural reads, "Keep Dreaming."
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer

Across Seattle, in neighborhoods like Pioneer Square, Capitol Hill, Ballard and Belltown, colorful murals are appearing on boarded up restaurants and businesses.

"Remember you are half water. If you can't go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does," reads a mural painted by Erin Oostra along First Avenue South in Pioneer Square.

"Hope is not cancelled," reads another, painted by artist Jay Michael. Across the street, pedestrians are reminded that "This is temporary."

As Seattle businesses, coffee shops and restaurants shut down amid the pandemic, drab plywood replaced their many entrances and windows.

Now, artists have transformed that plywood into murals bearing messages of hope and resilience.

Below are some of the recent murals that have appeared in Seattle.

caption: A mural of a health care worker painted by artist Jay Mason is shown through the window of a passing King County Metro bus on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, along South Main Street in Seattle.
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A mural of a health care worker painted by artist Jay Mason is shown through the window of a passing King County Metro bus on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, along South Main Street in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
caption: Marty Jackson, left, and Gracie Ann, right, sit in the doorway of a boarded up business in front of a mural painted by artist Jay Michael that reads, 'Hope is Not Cancelled,' on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, along First Avenue South in Seattle.
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Marty Jackson, left, and Gracie Ann, right, sit in the doorway of a boarded up business in front of a mural painted by artist Jay Michael that reads, 'Hope is Not Cancelled,' on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, along First Avenue South in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
caption: Artist B Line Dot works on a mural on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, along First Avenue South in Seattle. When complete, the mural will read, "Keep Dreaming."
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Artist B Line Dot works on a mural on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, along First Avenue South in Seattle. When complete, the mural will read, "Keep Dreaming."
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
caption: A jogger reflected in the window of a closed business runs along Ballard Avenue in front of painted murals on Sunday, May 3, 2020, near the intersection of 20th Avenue Northwest in Seattle. The murals, from left, were painted by artists Carolyn Wassmer, Sean Mullin and Gynn Rosenberg.
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A jogger reflected in the window of a closed business runs along Ballard Avenue in front of painted murals on Sunday, May 3, 2020, near the intersection of 20th Avenue Northwest in Seattle. The murals, from left, were painted by artists Carolyn Wassmer, Sean Mullin and Gynn Rosenberg.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
caption: A cyclist looks toward a mural painted by Scott McCall, covering the boarded up facade of Pho Big Bowl, along NW Market Street on Monday, April 20, 2020, in Seattle. The quote from Martin Luther King Jr. reads, "only when it is dark enough can you see the stars."
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A cyclist looks toward a mural painted by Scott McCall, covering the boarded up facade of Pho Big Bowl, along NW Market Street on Monday, April 20, 2020, in Seattle. The quote from Martin Luther King Jr. reads, "only when it is dark enough can you see the stars."
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
caption: Sara Thompson paints a mural on Sunday, May 3, 2020, at the intersection of East Pike Street and Belmont Avenue in Seattle. When complete, the mural will read "United we stand, divided we fall."
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Sara Thompson paints a mural on Sunday, May 3, 2020, at the intersection of East Pike Street and Belmont Avenue in Seattle. When complete, the mural will read "United we stand, divided we fall."
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
caption: Artist Mari Shibuya works on a mural on Monday, April 20, 2020, at the intersection of East Pine Street and 10th Avenue in Seattle. The mural reads, "New systems will grow if we tend to them together."
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Artist Mari Shibuya works on a mural on Monday, April 20, 2020, at the intersection of East Pine Street and 10th Avenue in Seattle. The mural reads, "New systems will grow if we tend to them together."
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
caption: A person photographs a painted mural on the boarded up facade of Percy's & Co. on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, along Ballard Avenue in Seattle.
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A person photographs a painted mural on the boarded up facade of Percy's & Co. on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, along Ballard Avenue in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
caption: Artist Sam Trout paints a mural on Monday, April 20, 2020, at the intersection of Broadway East and East Harrison Street in Seattle. When complete, the mural will show two astronauts  with the words, "I'll see you when we land."
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Artist Sam Trout paints a mural on Monday, April 20, 2020, at the intersection of Broadway East and East Harrison Street in Seattle. When complete, the mural will show two astronauts with the words, "I'll see you when we land."
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
caption: A mural painted by Erin Oostra is shown on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, along First Avenue South in Seattle. "Remember you are half water. If you can't go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does," reads the mural.
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A mural painted by Erin Oostra is shown on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, along First Avenue South in Seattle. "Remember you are half water. If you can't go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does," reads the mural.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer


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