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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Rogue Valley gubernatorial candidate blasts Gov. Brown on climate change ... Historical Society executive director stepping down ... Police say Grants Pass man admits to 50 vehicle thefts in Rogue Valley ... Rogue Valley gubernatorial candidate blasts Gov. Brown on climate change ... Historical Society executive director stepping down ... Police say Grants Pass man admits to 50 vehicle thefts in Rogue Valley ... DOWNTOWN Interstate 5 pillars next to Hawthorne Park will get mural makeover Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Dull, gray pillars that support the Interstate 5 viaduct next to Hawthorne Park will soon be adorned with colorful murals depicting wildlife images from Southern Oregon. Medford City Council approved an agreement Thursday with the Oregon Department of Transportation that sets the wheels in motion to begin the transformation July 6. Artists Jessilyn Brinkerhoff and Esteban Camacho Steffensen will paint the murals on six pillars just south of Jackson Street. “I liked the fact they listened to us,” said Roger Lemstrom, a commissioner with the Medford Arts Commission. “I like the fact there is a theme.” Lemstrom said the commission also liked having two artists who came from the Medford area. “One of the things we talked a lot about is local talent,” he said. The city has set aside $50,000 for the art project, which includes a $25,000 grant from the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. The contract with Brinkerhoff and Steffensen is $45,300. Not counting materials and supplies, the fees for the artists is $27,000. ODOT will spend an additional $14,700 to remove lead-based paint on the columns before the art installation. Each pillar will represent a month out of the year. The pillars closest to Jackson Street will be January and February. On the backside, it will be March and April. The same format will continue on the other four pillars, concluding with November and December. Various animals and fish found in the area will be depicted on each pillar, as well as the supporting beam that holds up the viaduct. A Zen garden will be built between the pillars with rocks, gravel, sand and some plants. The pillar project is in addition to the $1.6 million in work to remodel Hawthorne Park, scheduled for completion later this summer. Lemstrom said Medford is in a state of transformation, and this project will enhance the city’s goals of transforming Hawthorne Park. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or d [email protected] . Follow on Twitter at @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501