The Republic Café & Ming Lounge in Old Town Chinatown has seen a lot of changes over its 100-plus years operating in Portland. This spring, the restaurant has undergone some changes of its own.
Artist Derek Wu has painted a sizable mural on the historic restaurant located at 222 NW 4th Ave., called Still We Bloom. The mural is replete with plum blossoms, a forest and a mountain scene, all done in the style of traditional Chinese watercolor. Wu chose to feature plum blossoms as a symbol of perseverance for Chinatown because the flowers bloom even in the winter.
“My hope is that the mural offers a moment of calm, safety and optimism to a neighborhood that deserves the city’s love and support. A quiet reminder that neighborhoods, like people, can endure and bloom again,” Wu said in a press release…