Wall study / 01
Structured wall concept
A grounded approach that keeps the building and landscaping above the wall.
The Oakland wall project / Concept 001An invitation to create · Oakland, California
Paint the city.Protect the innocent.
A gathering of artists. A wall with a voice. A community-wide call for truth, protection, unity, and accountability. This is the first chapter of the ASHÉ Umbrella Project mural movement.
The Umbrella Project identityTypography first
Umbrella Project · Primary logo directionOne world · One people · One love · ASHÉ
01 / Why we paintMore than
More than
a mural.
The wall is our invitation to build something bigger: an enduring public symbol that says every child and every innocent person deserves protection, a fair process, and a community willing to stand up.
Explore the project story ↗“The umbrella is more than a canopy. It is a protective covenant — a promise to make room for truth, listen to vulnerable voices, and never look away.”
The ASHÉ Umbrella Project brings together public art, neighborhood events, storytelling, civic education, and community advocacy. The mural gives that mission a physical presence in Oakland — visible, welcoming, memorable, and built by local artists.
TruthTransparencyDue processProtectionOne love
01 / The voice
ASHÉ
Energy, empowerment, cultural identity, and the conviction to turn intention into action.
02 / The promise
UMBRELLA
Shade, sanctuary, togetherness, and a shared responsibility to protect those who need protection.
03 / The work
PROJECT
A living effort — art, people, education, events, and practical work that continues beyond the wall.
02 / The siteA real wall.
A real wall.
A shared vision.
The concept begins with the long retaining wall near Lake Merritt, Oakland. The artwork belongs on the wall itself — not over the building, flowers, sky, or trees. The neighboring existing mural remains part of the street's story.
Site study / Compare views
Existing wall · Original site photograph
Photograph vs. generated concept — separately rendered perspectives, not a survey-accurate overlay.Oakland / CA
03 / The art directionLet the letters
Let the letters
carry the weight.
A timeless, cinematic studio-wordmark feeling interpreted in an original Oakland street-art language: bold serif forms, architectural balance, sculpted strokes, gold light, and carefully restrained graffiti energy.
A
ASHÉ / leftTraditional, level lettering, set slightly lower than the center word. Accent on É stays clear.
U
UMBRELLA / centerTaller than the words beside it. The tops of its letters remain straight; the lower letter legs follow a subtle arch.
P
PROJECT / rightLevel and structured again, balancing ASHÉ across the center span.
↗
ASÉ / POWERStacked inside and beneath the arch, in the smaller supporting position.
Hero lettering · Stage one
Study / 01Metallic serif x mural craft
First, perfect the letterforms. Then invite participating artists to develop supporting details — umbrella silhouettes, beach and rain references, cocktail parasols, local landscape or community motifs — only where they strengthen the composition.
04 / The inspiration libraryDifferent visions.
Different visions.
One purpose.
Explore the letter studies and proposed placements. These are conversation starters for Trey's artist circle — not instructions to reproduce another artist's work.
Type study / 01
The primary wordmark
Our starting point: the typography defines the movement.
Color study / 02
Rasta pigment exploration
A warmer, bolder palette on a black wall surface.
Site reference / 01
The proposed work area
The wall geometry matters more than the mockup camera crop.
Future detail / 01
Umbrella motifs — later
Beach, rain, celebration and protection. Add after the letters are solved.
Future detail / 02
Community and culture
Exploratory inspiration for additional walls or campaign artwork.
Gallery assets are illustrative concept renderings. They are not final lettering files, property surveys, authorized paint plans, or directions to alter existing artwork. For a paint-ready result, participating artists should hand-letter or vectorize the approved type.
One world / One people / One love
“We're not only putting color on concrete. We're putting a promise of protection into the public eye.”
ASHÉ · The power of people creating together
05 / One connected missionArt. Shelter.
Art. Shelter.
Action.
The mural is a doorway into the larger ASHÉ vision: creative empowerment in the neighborhood, public awareness around institutional accountability, and sustained community involvement.
Read the wider mission ↗01
↘
ASHÉ Sanctuary & Empowerment Foundation
The wider protection, empowerment and community-support vision. The project's public materials describe this relationship; partnership arrangements and organizational status should be confirmed before fundraising or legal claims.
02↘
ASHÉ Umbrella Project
The visible public-awareness initiative: shade and hospitality as symbols of shelter; storytelling, events, learning and advocacy as the work beneath it.
03↘
Oakland Mural Jam
A local, collaborative way for artists to turn the mission into a landmark, an invitation to dialogue, and a platform for community creativity.
06 / The artist gatheringTrey + Oakland
Trey + Oakland
artist collective.
The idea: bring local painters, letterers, designers and friends into one creative session. Everybody can contribute, but the finished wall should feel like one intentional story, not disconnected pieces.
Graffiti letteringMural designColor & compositionWall preparationPhotography / filmCommunity outreach
01
Gather & sketch
Bring the artists together. Review the primary wordmark, photograph the wall, and share first designs.
02
Verify & plan
Confirm permission and access, measure the wall, inspect the surface, and agree on approved boundaries.
03
Paint together
Coordinate roles, materials, prep, safety and lettering. The painting date follows confirmed approvals.
04
Share the story
Recognize contributing artists, capture the process with consent, and introduce the community to the mission.
Be part of the session ↗Planning-stage invitation · No date or paint access represented as confirmed.
07 / Create something togetherBring your style.
Bring your style.
Keep the message.
Letterers, illustrators, filmmakers, organizers, sponsors, and neighbors: the project needs imagination and careful execution. If you're interested, introduce yourself and tell the crew what you could bring.
“No single artist owns this message. The community gives it life.”
Download the artist brief ↓The existing 8-page PDF includes the design direction, physical site references and preliminary exhibits.
08 / Good to knowThe details
The details
matter.
Is the mural location confirmed and approved?
The wall has been identified for concept development. Actual property boundaries, ownership permission, surface preparation and any applicable approvals must be confirmed before work begins.
Are artists expected to copy the image exactly?
No. The image studies define the desired wordmark structure and direction. Participating artists should develop original, paint-ready hand lettering and a layout that works on the measured wall. No studio trademark or another artist's original logo should be replicated.
Will umbrellas be painted into the logo?
Maybe in a later phase. The first creative priority is the typography: flat ASHÉ and PROJECT, a taller flat-topped UMBRELLA with the bottom of the letterforms following the arch, and ASÉ POWER beneath it.
Will this include a public event or livestream?
The team is exploring artist interviews, documentation, community events and potential livestream coverage. These are plans under development, not scheduled or confirmed productions.
How does this relate to the justice-awareness mission?
Public art can create a welcoming entry point into a serious conversation about the protection of children, due process, transparent records and independent accountability. Specific legal concerns and evidence should be handled through appropriate, privacy-protective channels rather than painted onto the wall.