A new three-story, 2,400-square-foot mural depicting vibrant images of local nature is almost complete on the side of a residential building on Monterey Road in Morgan Hill—and the artists give credit to countless passersby who have encouraged their work.
The mural faces south on the outside wall of the new Morgan Hill Senior Housing complex on the 16600 block of Monterey Road.
Berkeley-based artists Andrew Miller and Camaron Stephens have been sweltering under the hot summer sun the past few weeks, using a scissor lift to reach the top of the structure as they paint their creation, and setting up a temporary shop under a portable shade canopy in the building’s courtyard.
The mural depicts a “vivid panorama” of nature scenes often found in Morgan Hill—including an oak tree, mountaintop, sunflowers and birds in flight.
“This is meant to represent the soul of this geographic area, which is rolling hills, beautiful tangled oak trees and fireworks-style flowers,” Miller said.
The piece is right next to the post office parking lot, allowing passersby an unobstructed view of the art—and the artists at work—at all times of the day.
Miller and Stephens said throughout the painting process, they have received constant support from community members passing through the post office parking lot or along Monterey Road.
Every day, they have heard vehicles blowing their horns in the mural’s direction, giving thumbs up and shouting encouraging words. Some passersby have even stopped to drop off their contact information for prospective future mural business.
That support has been “instrumental” to helping the muralists complete the work, Miller said.
“Even though it was 95 degrees, every five minutes a honk and a thumbs up and a ‘Can I get a woot woot!’ really kept us going,” Miller said.
The artists operate SF Bay Murals, which was contracted by the property owner to create the 65-foot-wide mural. The design process took about nine months, and the artists have been painting on site since the middle of June.
Miller noted that local paint experts Rafael Anguiano and Nallely Medina Castro have been “super helpful” in assisting with color matching for the new mural.
