Artists Help to Beautify Downtown Martinez

Martinez, CA (MPG) - A whimsical depiction of life in Martinez has filled the block past Main Street Plaza and wrapped around to Castro Street. The large mural is a colorful creation by local volunteer artists inspired by Councilwoman Noralea Gipner.

“It was a quick, informal effort to bring life and color to the neighborhood,” she said. “This was a private project.”

The idea sprang to life in October 2019, the artwork began in November, and the volunteer project is almost finished now. Perhaps it was quick when compared to government projects.

Since enforcement of earthquake-retrofit laws, vacant and boarded buildings have been the bane of downtown businesses. Gipner said it they were “ugly” and the eyesore should go. Her goal was quick beautification, just until the buildings are rented. There was no money in the city budget for it, so she looked to the community for a way to do something about it.

One of the largest properties on Main Street stretches almost a block long. “The owners of the Hilson’s department store and Bank of America spaces agreed to let us paint the boards that are in the windows of those vacant buildings,” Gipner said. 

She went to the Martinez Art Association (MAA) to recruit artists willing to beautify the brown boards covering window after window. 

She asked the Recovery Center (Central Contra Costa Sanitary Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility) and  Ace Hardware to donate paints and started looking for a source for brushes and other materials. “I was sure we could do this,” she remarked. 

The former Bank of America building at the Plaza became the canvas for a black and white image of actress Marilyn Monroe holding a martini, by artist Wesley Evans. 

MAA President Dorris Langley and artist Cindy Wight collaborated on their concept for the remainder of the Main Street side of the structure. Langley’s son, Jefferson, has a painting business and helped the cause by painting the background on which the artists began to weave threads of Americana, nature, music, and enjoying life in Martinez into a huge design. 

The two artists have worked on it for about 50 hours, sometimes with an assistant, according to Langley. “Noralea was in touch with us the whole time, cheering us on,” Langley commented. 

Wright and Langley say the musical notes are a song in the repertoire of the “Hopeful Romantics,” whose silhouettes are in the scene. “It is Alan Bond, and Hope Savage, Bruce Campbell, and Brian Walker. Roy Jeans, who opened Armando’s is a little further off (in the scene).” They expect to add some poppies and other details before it is complete.

Artist Colleen Gianatiempo’s soon to be completed art work extends the theme around the corner on Castro Street to the Pegasus Bicycle Works.

Gipner said the painted boards will be removed when the spaces are rented, but there is already interest in placing them elsewhere or selling them to benefit a good cause.