Murals & Green Spaces

GMS works with residents at alternative shelter villages to design and create beautiful living spaces. In 2020, GMS was invited to join a coalition to create 3 safe rest villages in Portland, including BIPOC Village and Queer Affinity Village. Since then, we have expanded our on-site programming to new villages and program partner sites. Village residents have the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the mural and garden projects, from meeting with neighborhood associations to designing and carrying out ambitious projects. More than painted fences, the murals are multidimensional and include our signature addition of large flora and fauna plywood cutouts that add dynamic energy. The murals flip the script on housing sited on parking lots, creating enchanted forest and natural landscapes that wrap each village.

Attesting to the village beautification projects’ positive impact as public amenities seen by hundreds of thousands of passersby, the murals and greenspaces help embed new villages in their wider community, gain neighborhood support for the villages, and build relationships as volunteers work together to bring the villager’s artwork to life.