Yelizaneta (Liza) Bakhtina
“My inspiration comes from the things that I hold dear and that help me make it day to day in this place. They say to wear the textiles of your culture, or to have objects around your home or in your pocket that are dear to you is good karmically. Art is so important. Art nurtures our souls as our minds and bodies. The parameters for this project were only that it should be “upbeat.” I am fortunate and thankful that the City of Olympia and its organizers had faith in me as an artist as well so that my content could have a venue.
The triptych on the facade of 414 Franklin from right to left represents Nature, Protector of the Female Outsider, and Home. As my late friend Micah Langston would say “Nature must be brought into the city by hand.”On the right, the Dogwood in bloom is Spring 2020, it is the spirit of Nature in all, with its many secret lessons if we are paying attention to where it points. In the center Coatlicue the fierce earth-mother is represented with a birth scene, to watch over the most vulnerable of our Olympia streets. On the left is a little representation of coziness and home, purely selfish imagery that I hope also makes other people happy.
Thanks so much to the organizers for putting together this beautification project. It goes a long way to get inspired by all of the participating murals in town.”
Published work by Bakhtina includes the children’s book “The Magic Traveling Bunk Bed” as well as “The Creatures’ Secrets Animal Divination Card Deck.”
Ongoing work as well as a link to the book can be found on Instagram @continuedproductions.