Libraries and Legacies
Vineland Public Library
Hi Loves,
I have been a busy bee with the paintbrush in recent months and I can’t wait to share the beautiful adventures with you!
Last week I wrapped up a mural at Vineland library in San Jose. This project was commissioned by the City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs, painted in the children’s section of the recently renovated library. The awkward “shape” of the wall space available posed the biggest challenge, with narrow horizontal and vertical sections around the bookshelves intersected by a protruding ceiling soffit. The library walls were painted pure white, with one mustard accent wall near the mural. I reverse engineered the composition to fit the narrow spaces without feeling crowded, including wrap-around elements and “peeks” around all the edges and corners to play with all the viewing angles.
I chose a late afternoon color palette so the corner would feel warm and cozy and would coordinate with the adjacent mustard accent wall. The staff wanted the artwork to feel inclusive, inspire adventure in the kids, and celebrate the history of Campbell and the natural environment. Fortunately, owls, hawks, bunnies, and squirrels are enjoyed by 100% of children regardless of gender or race, so that was a safe subject! They have likely never had their car cables chewed by invasive squirrels or seen their baby chick picked off by a keen barn owl… they just see cute, small, fluffy mystery and like it.
Above, Michael Ogilvie, director of public art for San Jose, Cynthia Cao, project manager and my very delightful handler on the project, and Paul Wilson, the Vineland branch manager. The City of San Jose arts programs are thriving in their competent hands!
Wagner Ranch Elementary School Library
It is surprisingly rare for me to have two similar projects in the same year, but I recently finished up a similar theme at the library of Wagner Ranch Elementary, in the east bay. if I have a creative sweet spot, it is certainly in warm, inviting bay area-inspired landscape murals. I’ve been doing it long enough (24 years, yikes!) that I am pretty relaxed about my process. People often comment at the beginning of the project, “I can’t wait to see what you are going to paint!” To which I respond, “Me too!” They might be surprised if they knew how much genuine curiosity there is in my response. At Wagner Ranch, we used past examples of work instead of a formal site specific design. I worked with the PTA president, Morgan Tarr, who trusted me with complete creative license. I rarely meet other “Morgan’s” and have never collaborated with one. It was both confusing and delightful for my brain to receive texts from Morgan.
I learn so much from my “clients”. I put that in quotes, because these days my clients are working on behalf of the community. “Partners” might be a more apt descriptor. We bond over taking a creative leap together, and sharing the relief of success when our efforts are well received in the broader community. Like most instigators with a fresh vision, PTA president Morgan Tarr was met with plenty of resistance to her idea for a mural. Status quo is SO MUCH EASIER to maintain. What I observed in Morgan was that she didn’t even entertain the idea of being a victim of circumstance. She reasoned with the notoriously difficult gatekeepers who wanted to keep the gates locked: Look, I’m going to get this project done. Do you want to be the obstacle or the hero in this story?
I like it. Go, Morgan.
Sleepy Hollow Elementary School
I’ll sneak in one more share in since it fits so nicely with the first two. I painted this landscape mural at the front of Sleepy Hollow Elementary School, also in Orinda. The school was recently renovated – a big upheaval in logistics for a few years for the Principal, Patsy Templeton. When the dust settled, they had a beautiful campus but the new auditorium presented a big bare wall at entrance to the school. The entrance of the school was boring and sterile, which did not at all fit the rural and snuggly Sleepy Hollow vibe. Patsy championed the idea of a mural with her co-conspirator and school art teacher, Janet Robinson. It took a few years of lobbying the idea to get funding and approvals, but the results paid off. This mural fits the Sleepy Hollow vibe like a glove.
We included a legend to help the kids spot all the animals. And who doesn’t enjoy rock star treatment? I felt so appreciated at Sleepy Hollow!
Patsy made this awesome time lapse video of the mural process. She also invited me to speak at a school-wide assembly. I love to share my origin story about how I was decidedly untalented when I started painting at 26, but through steady practice I got better. It’s a lesson for all ages.
I want to underscore that on all these projects, the coordinators faced tremendous resistance. Status quo was successfully disrupted and the result is singular and welcoming environments that benefit the communities that enjoy them. I have the easy job. The individuals who generously give their time and effort towards building a more beautiful world to live in are making these artistic transformations possible. They are leaving legacies of beauty in the places they care about most for the rest of us to enjoy.
I offer a deep bow of gratitude to all the instigators. Thank you for your vision, and for making the world a more beautiful place for the rest of us.
Now, go take a hike and soak in the fall beauty!
With love,
Morgan
