One Year, One Wall, and Still Going

The mural on the northern wall of the Historic McDonald’s Museum in San Bernardino continues to raise awareness for the arts in the area. The original goal for the wall was to highlight interesting and historical landmarks and business along Route 66 – from Needles to Santa Monica. However, the positive spirit of this project has captured the imagination of the artists and visitors alike – resulting in a new goal. The mural is now being used as a bullhorn to call out to all artists. Those behind the movement share that it's time to roll up their sleeves and make their home reflect the brilliant people who live here. “We want to revitalize this whole street,” says Phil Yeh, the principle artist behind this highly detailed mural. The other artists, including Rory Murray, Jan Windhausen, Anna Lambert, and myself share the same vision; to live and work in an art-driven city. We want to create a place where artist can flourish, where outsiders will think of San Bernardino’s “E” Street as the art destination for the city. With the support of museum owner Albert Okura, the group is working to open the back offices into a community studio/gallery and bookstore, complete with sculpture garden and a stage for local musicians to showcase their talent. The mural is a mixture of authentic landmarks and fantasy, which plays on the artists’ individual strengths. Phil’s detailed beach scene uses bright colors and characters to show movement and story. Rory draws from his experience as an illustrator to paint cars and buildings. Jan paints colorful backgrounds, plants and rocks. Anna, the newest and youngest artist to the team, brings her love of the fantastic to the wall by painting a tree dragon, a flock of flying chickens, and a cloud-dancing unicorn. My work includes the train boxcars that run along the entire 100ft wall, each car highlights cities in San Bernardino County. And like Anna and Phil, I like to bring imagination to the wall, with surreal fish swimming in the sky, dancing olives, and a chameleon painting a picture of a cowboy. Since the mural is located on Route 66 at the site of the first McDonald’s, travelers come from all over the world. Yet, as of lately, the team of artists is meeting a new group of visitors. These folks are locals, other artists, and art enthusiasts who are stopping by because they want to see the giant detailed mural in person, and share their own goals for rebooting our city.