Olympia artists inspired by Rosie the Riveter create can-do image for COVID-19 battle

Artists Taylor Clinton and Julie Kluh have created a mural inspired by Rosie the Riveter to offer a message of hope during the COVID-19 crisis.

Painted below the entrance to the Olympia Arthritis Clinic at 1212 Harrison Ave. in west Olympia, the 12-foot-by-6-foot mural is easily seen by passing traffic. And it was done in standard Sherwin-Wlliams house paint.

For Clinton, the inspiration came from wanting to find an image the community could get behind.

“We started the mural on April 15, and it took about 2-1/2 days complete,” he said.

Kluh has been pleased with the community’s response. “I’ve never received more positive response though social media on an artwork,” she said.

Dr. Mark Layton commissioned the mural artwork.

“The idea came to mind when I saw a news piece of the boarding up of business windows in Ballard due to COVID-19 and that local artists were being commissioned to paint them. I thought that I happen to have a wall which has an excellent drive-by view and has attracted a lot of graffiti, so it would work, and I also know some local artists. Bingo.”

The mural evokes the memory of the famous World War II-era painting by Norman Rockwell for The Saturday Evening Post that honored the contributions of women on the industrial home front.

This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 5:45 AM.