We have
”
An All American Hometown
”
right here where we live. Thomas Kinkade’s iconic painting,
”
Morgan Hill,
”
featuring the Granada Theatre at Monterey Road and Second
Street, has enhanced Morgan Hill’s recognition. Personally, this
beautifully framed picture enhances the wall of my study.
We have “An All American Hometown” right here where we live. Thomas Kinkade’s iconic painting, “Morgan Hill,” featuring the Granada Theatre at Monterey Road and Second Street, has enhanced Morgan Hill’s recognition.
Personally, this beautifully framed picture enhances the wall of my study.
And, incidentally, should one turn left on Second Street, you would see a mural on the side of a building, right here in Morgan Hill.
But, what if “our town” chose further enhancement with murals on many of our downtown buildings?
Perhaps, it has. A mural is coming to the new Third Street Promenade project, to brighten a pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare with lush landscaping, widened sidewalks and an event plaza.
Other towns have done this, like Chemainus, British Columbia, Canada, and Twenty-nine Palms, California.
And, there’s a story.
Chemainus, British Columbia, Canada, some 50 miles north of Victoria, the capitol of British Columbia, resides on the east coast of Vancouver Island.
The forest industry gave life to Chemainus in 1858, and supported the town for more than 100 years. However, by the 1980s, the town realized that diversity was necessary to continue the community by the sea. Thus, was born the idea for “the Festival of Murals,” which transformed Chemainus, “The Little Town That Did,” into Canada’s largest outdoor gallery.
The spirit of the past was envisioned for the future when, in 1982, Chemainus invited internationally-known artists to use the town as a canvas. Today more than 35 murals and 12 sculptures depict the town’s history and people.
Typical examples: No. 1, 1982, “Steam Donkey At Work” pictures the steam donkey and its crew hauling a log from the forest.
No. 8, 1983, “Chemainus 1891,” shows the original town of Chemainus, then known as Horseshoe Bay.
No. 12, 1983, “Native Heritage” represents the Native past and present in the area; three tribes are depicted.
No. 27, 1991, “The Spirit Of Chemainus” presents the ship built in 1985 as a tribute to the original Chemainus Festival of Murals. The Artist, Dan Sawatzky (assisted by son Peter).
And, No. 28, 1991, “Climax Engine Number Three,” depicts Engine No. 3 hauling logs in 1907. Again, Artist Dan Sawatzky. Remember the name.
In fact, there is a perpetual “The Chemainus Mural Project.” Originated by Dr. Karl Schutz, DL, over the years, this endeavor has prompted other communities to follow their lead.
Almost 2,000 miles south in late 1994, Action 29, a civic action group of Twenty-nine Palms, made plans to paint the community’s rich history on its business walls to boost community pride and attract visitors. The council believed that displaying their rich heritage in a spectacular outdoor gallery, and showcasing the efforts of world class artists, would achieve their goal, “The Oasis of Murals.”
The first mural, “Bill and Frances Keys,” pioneer homesteaders who settled at the Desert Queen Ranch in what is now Joshua Tree National Park was painted in November 1994 by Dan and Peter Sawatzky of Chemainus, British Columbia, the small Canadian village whose mural program inspired Twenty-nine Palms efforts.
No. 2, 1995, Early life at the Oasis of Mara,” pictures the life-giving springs of the Oasis of Mara which supported Native Americans and early settlers. Its famous fan palms were the source of Twenty-nine Palms’ name.
No. 3, 1995, “Dr. James B. Luckie, The Father of Twenty-nine Palms,” honors Pasadenian Dr. Luckie with populating the community during the years after World War I by sending veterans here for the pure dry air, to heal their tuberculosis and mustard-gas poisoned lungs.
No. 10, 1995, “Frank & Helen Bagley and The Bagley Store,” depicts homesteaders Frank and Helen Bagley as they arrived with their three sons on Thanksgiving Day 1927. They lived on a 160-acre homestead and founded Bagley’s Market, the town’s first general store. The mural was painted by Dan and Janis Sawatzky of Chemainus, B.C.
The Twenty-nine Palms Action Council is planning for at least 29 murals to grace their town.
As for Morgan Hill, painting larger-than-life historical murals on walls throughout our “All American Hometown” would enhance our town. Murals could make our downtown “a destination” by displaying our rich heritage in a spectacular outdoor gallery.
Burton Anderson is a Purple Heart Korean War Marine, with B.A., M.A. degrees. He was a junior college instructor and spent 32 years in aerospace industry before retiring from contract negotiation in 1992. He can be reached at ba****@*ol.com
