Jodi Court Cul-De-Sac Celebrates New Street Mural with Block Party

NEWBERG, Ore. — The Jodi Court street mural reached its final stage Saturday as neighbors unveiled the artwork that now brightens their cul-de-sac.

The road mural, painted Sept. 27, was spearheaded by Jodi Court resident David Heddy, associate director of strategy and impact for Habitat for Humanity. The project has been in the works since spring and was approved by the Newberg City Council and the Newberg Public Art Council.

“We’re really big believers in the idea that we’re the ones who create the spaces where we live, and we’re the ones creating the community that we want,” Heddy said. “It’s a way for neighbors to take things in their hands and say, this is how we’re going to be—and thanks to the city for letting us use the street.”

Heddy said the project was entirely neighbor-led, with every household on Jodi Court contributing.

“My daughter and her friends did the conceptual design, which is lying down in the grass island looking up through the cherry tree into the sky, so that’s the image we’re painting,” Heddy said.

Neighbors began chalking out the outline at 8 a.m., with painting starting around 9. The work was followed by a block party featuring live music, photography, smoked meats, and kids’ activities.

The mural artist, Bryce Heimuller, is a Dundee-based animator, illustrator and graphic designer. He previously created Newberg’s El Tala Mini Market mural in 2020 and the mural at Wayside Friends Church.

Heimuller said he got involved after noticing Heddy’s posts on Instagram.

“Before I could even message him, he messaged me, and he’s like, ‘Hey, I think your sister pet-sat my guinea pig. Do you want to work on this mural?’ Because he saw my art,” Heimuller said.

Heimuller designed the mural digitally on an iPad, incorporating neighbors’ ideas such as a biplane, cherry tree and flamingo.

“One of the challenges was that all these community members had different ideas they wanted included. It was about balancing how much of that to include without it being too visually cluttered and still making sure the design looked good,” Heimuller said.

He said he spent about four hours developing the concept, going through three revisions with input from Heddy and neighbors. It became the most collaborative mural project he has worked on.

Heddy said the project represents more than just art.

“The main purpose behind it is to build community we don’t have in our day and age,” he said. “A project like this is a step toward building the village of care and people that will take care of one another. The big story is rediscovering what it means to be with one another in community.”

The Austin Family Foundation provided a grant covering most of the $1,000 to $2,000 in supplies and artist fees, with neighbors paying the remainder.

“We wanted something really high-quality art-wise, because if you’re laying it down with paint on concrete, it should look good,” Heddy said.

He expects the mural to last up to three years before needing maintenance.

Visitors wishing to view the mural are asked to park along North Marie Avenue or farther away and walk or bike to the cul-de-sac.