Sacramento Retiree Photographs Public Murals

Lezlie Sterling/lsterling@sacbee.com

I came across this article in the Sacramento Bee about a local retired man who takes regular walks around the city photographing every public, private, amateur and professional mural, he can find. He meanders around, with no destination, documenting some great art.

photo by Russ Andris

You can see Russ Andris' photos here. Enjoy!

2nd Saturday in Sacramento

The family and I finally ventured out for a 2nd Saturday in Sacramento. I haven't been in while, what with moving to Woodland (not really a good excuse) and having a baby (a good excuse). It's definitely changed! There are quite a bit more stores, art galleries, restaurants, and random places involved. It was really packed and there were a few police cars down there due to a war protest. And maybe the beer garden.

Here's  a description of what 2nd Saturday is about:

Every month, art galleries in the Sacramento metro area stay open late and invite the public to the Second Saturday Art Walk. People from near and far come to walk from gallery to gallery, enjoying the latest and best of the region's vibrant art scene. There is live music, and an immense variety of art and activities behind every door.

It was really fun to go down and check out all the art and festivities. We started out with dinner at Hot Italian at 16th and Q St. They had a student art auction going on. There were about seven canvases to bid on. I even spied a couple of the artists lounging around, checking out the people checking out their artwork. It reminded me of my college days.

The husband and I took turns eating and following the BeaBug around. That's what you have to do when you've got an adventurous toddler and you want to eat at a restaurant! When Bug and I were wandering, we found a great black and white mural in the outside patio area.

After dinner, we went over to J Street to walk around. If you're a Sacramentian, you may have heard about the muralists, Hennessy Christophel and Sofia Lacin. They have been in the news alot this past year for their wonderful artwork on many Sacramento businesses. I read on their blog they were going to be doing a live mural painting for 2nd Saturday. So, the family and I wondering down there to check them out and say hi.

I chatted with them a short bit and they are very friendly. They seem like they really enjoy what they do.

We continued on a bit, but it was someone's bedtime, so we headed back home. Check your city, they probably have a monthly art walk, too!

Public Art in Yolo County

I had noticed a new mural on Main Street the other day. I mean, it's been there for 6 months or so, but I really looked at it the other day. It made me remember other murals I've seen in town. I wondered how many other there are in town and who are the artists that painted them. Let's take a little tour of my little town, Woodland. You might be surprised, like me.

16 Main Street, artist Maceo Montoya. The mural emphasizes the importance of good nutrition, physical activity, and promotion of healthy lifestyle choices.

Once I found out about the Montoya artists, Malaquias (father) and Maceo (son), I felt kinda stupid. Why didn't I know about these well-known artists living in my town? I'm sure everyone else did. Even worse, I have seen the murals around town and I didn't even bother to see who the artists were...until now. Sorry guys!

Beamer Park Elementary, 525 Beamer Street, artist Malaquias Montoya. The mural is inspired by one of the elementary school's favorite folk songs, "De Colores," which celebrates color in spring, birds and rainbows. - UC Davis News

Here's a little background:
Among the most prominent living Chicano artists, Malaquias Montoya's work is in the collections of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum in Chicago, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and more than a dozen other museums, libraries and universities. He is a renowned artist, activist, and professor  of Chicana/Chicano studies and art and art history at UC Davis and his students help him paint the murals during their class.

Freeman Elementary School, artist Malaquias Montoya.

His son, Maceo Montoya, grew up in the small town of Elmira, California. He comes from a family of artists and is an educator and author, as well. He graduated from Yale University in 2002 and received his Master of Fine Arts in painting from Columbia University in 2006. He has completed numerous public art commissions, including a mural at Yale University’s La Casa Cultural Center. He has also worked on murals with the Eastside Arts Alliance in Oakland and Taller Arte Del Nuevo Amenecer (TANA) in Woodland, where he has worked as an instructor. He presently lives in Woodland where he paints and writes.

6 West Court Street, artist Maceo Montoya. As a director of the project, Mr. Montoya has been working with students ranging from middle school to high school to develop a design for a community mural project.

These are only a few from the Montoyas, I'll post more murals from them soon.

We have more public art murals in town by other artists. We had two historic murals hung outside the historic Woodland Opera house. They were canvases instead of being painted directly on the wall. Unfortunately, they didn't stand up to the wild storms we get sometimes.

Mural on historic Woodland Opera House, Woodland, CA. Building pictured was the terminal for the Sacramento Northern interurban electric railroad.

These are the two canvas murals before they were blown/taken down. I can't find who painted them.

I found this Elephant mural as I was driving home. It used to be the Crocodeli, but now it's The Elephant Hut. I tried to find out about the artist, NorCal Custom Murals, but I couldn't even find a website.

The Elephant Hut Deli, Kentucky Rd. Painted by NorCal Custom Murals.

If you want to see these murals, and more, come see "The Art of Public Art” – showcasing the art and artists of public art installations around the county. Gallery 625, 625 Court St, Woodland, 530-406-4844, info@yoloarts.org. Reception: Friday, April 2, 5:30 pm.

Also, when you are out and about in your town, snaps some pictures of YOUR city's public murals and post them on http://murallocator.org.