New Mural Unveiled at The Annex Celebrates Residents Voices and Creativity
By Robin Denning, Aug. 1, 2025
THE DALLES, Ore. A vibrant new mural now greets residents and visitors at The Annex Transitional Housing and Shelter following an unveiling ceremony on July 31st, attended by about 50 community members and organizational partners. Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) Executive Director Leslie Naramore joined artists Chris Pothier and Dylan McManus and MCCAC Community Engagement Coordinator Miriam Starrett to celebrate the installation outside The Annex’s west facade.
“You matter, and this is your home,” Naramore told the gathering. “Art has the power to transform not just a space, but how we feel in that space. It heals, it connects, and it tells our stories and our truth.” Naramore thanked everyone who contributed their time, talents and experiences — from shelter residents to volunteers and partner agencies — in shaping the mural’s design.
“This mural project is a testament to the strength found in collaboration,” Naramore said during her remarks, echoing themes of community and partnership.
Artist Chris Pothier described a collaborative process that began with a community pizza party, chalk drawings by shelter residents and their children, and multiple rounds of visual refinement. “Seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces as they painted was the highlight of this project,” Pothier said. “We wanted something contemporary that would pop, but more importantly, that would reflect the voices and creativity of the people who call The Annex home.”
Fellow artist Dylan McManus added that each block of color, every handprint and every chalk sketch originated with a drawing made by a member of the Annex community. “There were 30 or 40 participants,” McManus noted, “and every single drawing represents someone who lives, works or volunteers here. That level of collaboration is rare in public art, and it makes this mural truly ours.”
MCCAC Community Engagement Coordinator Miriam Starrett emphasized how the mural marks a new chapter for The Annex, which opened in October 2023 after the renovation of the former Oregon Motor Motel. “Two years ago, this site was an empty building; today it is a hub of dignity and inclusion,” Starrett said. “This mural is not just decoration, it’s a testament to the strength, resilience and joy of our residents and the wider Dalles community.”
The mural spans the full west-facing wall of The Annex, depicting hands reaching toward a stylized skyline and chalk-like sketches of local flora and faces. Its bold blocks of blue, orange and green draw the eye, while the layers of resident artwork, rendered in vibrant acrylic and chalk outlines, invite close inspection.
The project was funded by grants from the Roundhouse Foundation and the Oregon Community Foundation, with support from the Dalles Art Center and the Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce. Partner agencies providing on-site services at The Annex include Mid-Columbia Center for Living, One Community Health, Nch’i Wana Housing and Bridges to Health. Guests mingled over refreshments and inspected the mural, which will remain a daily reminder that every person who walks through The Annex’s doors “is seen, is valued and is part of this community.”
The Annex provides 50 transitional housing units and approximately 75 beds for Veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, young adults aging out of youth programs, families with children and members of Native and Latinx communities. Renovations were completed in 2023 by more than 20 local contractors, maintaining a focus on community investment and sustainability. For more information about The Annex and MCCAC’s services, visit www.mccac.com/the-annex.
Robin is a filmmaker and business consultant in her day-to-day work. She’s received 2 NADO economic development awards in partnership with MCEDD, and has worked across The Mid Columbia on projects that build community health, education, and economy.
With most of her time spent working with clients and the technical aspects of CCCNews, Robin only contributes her writing occasionally.