A local Girl Scout’s public art installation along the Interurban Trail is encouraging the community to have fun while social distancing during the pandemic.
Located inside the Interurban Tunnel, Eva Villavizencio’s mural titled “Social Dis(dance)” depicts dancing silhouettes wearing colorful masks and music symbols along both sides of the tunnel. Villavizencio, a member of Troop 42215, painted the mural to receive her Girl Scout Gold Star Award. According to Villavizencio, the project needed to serve a need in the community and address a societal issue.
“The issue that I’m addressing with this is the feelings of isolation that a lot of our community is facing during these times because we’ve all had to social distance,” she said. “My hope is that with the mural the dancing figures and the music will inspire people to have fun even if they can’t be physically close.”
The mural also helps people visualize social distancing, since each figure is painted 6 feet apart, Villavizencio added.
Gold Star Award projects are typically meant to be sustainable, but the City of Lynnwood has other plans for the Interurban Tunnel so Villavizencio’s mural might be temporary. An artist was slated to install a mural showing figures running and exercising. However, the artist also intended the project to involve community members by having them help paint the mural. Due to COVID-19, the project has been postponed until next year, said Community Programs Coordinator Fred Wong.
Since current plans for that mural involve painting only one tunnel wall, Wong said it’s possible some of Villavizencio’s mural may remain. Lynnwood city staff have been looking to local artists to help beautify the city with projects like the future “I Love Lynnwood” sign. Wong said he hopes more art will help reduce graffiti in the city.
“I think there’s more respect for art than just a blank wall,” he said.
A recent Edmonds-Woodway High School graduate, Villavizencio worked over the weekend to complete the project before heading to college in Boston.
Villavizencio also created an Instagram account for the mural and encouraged community members to tag the account in photos.
–Story and photos by Cody Sexton
Since I no longer live in Edmonds I don’t know where this tunnel is. Can someone please provide an address so I may drive over to look at this wonderful looking mural. What a great job she did. Thank you for sharing your talent.
It’s just across the street from Shane Co. jewelry store.
Irene, I have not walked that stretch is a few months but I’m pretty sure its at the southeast end of the Alderwood Mall as it goes under the Alderwood Mall Parkway. 18833 28th Ave W, Lynnwood, WA 98036 should put you to the closest access point where you could park.
Thanx for asking!
For me, the interurban trail is on 220th St SW, just down the hill east of Hwy 99
The Interurban Trail is about 20 miles starting where it joins the Burke in Seattle through Everett. There are a few sections that don’t mesh together but between the two you could walk from well north of the Everett mall to Golden Gardens park in Ballard.
Congratulations Eva Villavizencio on achieving the highest award in Girl Scouting-The Gold Award. That speaks not only of your obvious drive and caring attitude, but your dedication to following your own goals through the many steps accomplished to earn the Gold. What a timely project theme; and one our community can enjoy and smile about. Your sister Girl Scouts are PROUD of you!