Exuberant color and form is on its way to downtown San Rafael. On Tuesday, the City Council approved five new public art installations, including three large-scale murals and two sculptures to be installed at highly visible, city-owned sites throughout downtown.
The work was selected after a national call for artists last year that drew nearly 200 applicants, followed by a multi-stage juried selection process with public input. Installations are expected to occur between this spring and summer.
Bryan Valenzuela of St. Helena will create “Handle With Care,” a two-panel mural spanning approximately 2,000 square feet on the exterior of the C Street garage. Valenzuela is known for creating large-scale figurative murals using a unique drawing using stipulated hand-written text to build shape and shadow.
Wyatt Hersey, who works between San Anselmo and Santa Cruz, will paint “San Rafael Tapestry,” an 800-square-foot mural along a Second Street retaining wall. Hersey’s work often draws inspiration from his background as a wildlife biologist, animating playful folk art depictions of animals and the land.
San Francisco artist Paz de la Calzada will install a ceramic tile mural on the City Plaza Courtyard fountain, combining hand-crafted kiln-fired tiles with painted surfaces. Her mural is formally inspired by water and her practice integrates architecture and material experimentation.
A long-term engagement
Sculptor Martin Taylor of Portola Valley will present “Touch the Sky,” a stainless steel patina figure with gold accents designed for long-term installation in the Fourth Street median after an initial temporary placement at the San Rafael Community Center. Taylor is recognized for large public works that emphasize motion and light drawn from her background as an industrial engineer.
At City Hall, East Palo Alto artist Oleg Lobykin will exhibit a polished 18-foot stainless steel abstract sculpture for a one-year term. Lobykin’s work focuses on balance, form, and the relationship between sculpture and public space.
The works are funded primarily through a 2023 grant of over $671,000 from the California Arts Council to support the Downtown San Rafael Arts District. Of that amount, $250,000 was allocated to a Bay Area marketing contractor, Local Edition Creative, to develop and implement a public art program. An additional $10,000 was proposed to expand the contract scope.
Funds cover artist fees, fabrication and installation, project management, permits, marketing, community engagement, a temporary sculpture placement, and a public celebration event upon completion. After the art is complete, the city will assume long-term ownership and maintenance responsibilities for permanent artworks.