Officer Down

On Saturday, mourners gathered at Willits High School to honor Officer Dave Tiller, who finally succumbed to cancer last Wednesday. Members of law enforcement from all over the area gathered along with local family and friends in the Auditorium, then proceeded to the Community Center for a reception. As with the recent Smith memorial, the Boy Scouts set out American flags to line Main Street and Commercial in Tiller's honor. We are all moved by a community united in grief.

March Theme Day: Glass

Twenty five years later, this art project by Willits High School students still brightens the row of windows on the side wall of the City Council Chambers. About a dozen panes in all, they depict cultural and natural history themes of our area. Arts education has many lasting effects, and this investment in it was sponsored in part by an Exemplary Arts Grant from the California Arts Council.

For more examples of glass seen in cities around the world, click here to view thumbnails for all participants in today's City Daily Photo Bloggers theme.

Bunny Dumpster

I'm not entirely clear on what all the spray-paint tagging on the one dumpster means, but at least I can read the word "bunny" on the right. Can anyone tell me what it says on the left?

These were just the outer edge of a large collection of commercial sized dumpsters, apparently being stored on the big lot next to the Solid Wastes of Willits transfer station. They turned out to be fun photo subjects, so I may have to post some more from that excursion. The large structures in the background are part of the Willits Redwood Company mill, across Blosser Lane.

Loose Caboose

The Loose Caboose is a popular sandwich eatery tucked away on Wood Street behind the Book Juggler, with their dining patio leading to the restaurant. As you step through the gate, this fantasy painting greets you with childlike conceptions of castle and rainbow and fairy, along with a "loose" caboose, unaided by a locomotive. The railroad theme is appropriate for a town with so many rail connections, and so many fantasies of seeing them all operate again.

Cracks and Jack

It's so rare to see custom tile work like this any more, that I grieve to see it drilled into for a pointless railing dividing two shop entrances. The "Colonial" must have been a hotel or apartment building long ago. The crack suggests it could have endured a fairly strong earthquake, and the upper facade, seen in the photo below, shows such evidence as well. When the 1906 quake hit this area, the only fatality happened when a brick hotel collapsed on the proprietor. Residential chimneys fell down all over the area, but the wooden framed houses themselves endured pretty well, being able to flex with the earth. I don't know if the Colonial was around for those events. It seems unlikely with all its brickwork still standing.

Few people realize the epicenter of that shaker was closer to Santa Rosa than San Francisco, and the rupture continued quite strongly up the fault line north. Writer Jack London toured these areas with his wife, Charmian, soon after, and wrote about his observations for Collier's magazine. In her diary (held by the Huntington Library in San Marino), Charmian mentions Jack writing part of "White Fang" while they stayed at a hotel nearer to the railroad depot in Willits.



As Melodee pointed out in the comments, the Colonial name applied to the cinema once operated in part of this building. Thanks Melodee!

Fantasy Land

Coincidentally combining elements from the previous two posts, the westernmost end of the J.D. Redhouse building mural casts the Mendocino coast into a planet of fantasy, with a moon in a pink sky as the viewer looks north. The camouflage tarp reveals the contrast between fantasy forest green paint and more realistic hues. I'm not a fan of the color "teal", but I actually like this mural. I suspect the black trailer is there if needed for deliveries of hay bales to area farms.

FantasyMuralCamoTr Jigsaw Puzzle

Feminine Mystique

Remarkably, the artist's signature on this mural indicates it was painted in 1977. The storefront facing the street is now a watch repair shop, so I had always assumed this beauty salon reference was just left up for the sake of the artwork. It wasn't until I walked around this side of Main Street today that I discovered Valerie's on the opposite side of the building, still an active business. I need to get out more.

Public History Mural: The Persico Boys

Dated 1994, a series of "snapshot" images mimic a large photo album mounted on some walls downtown, probably organized by the county museum staff of that time. Various local painters were given photographs of local personalities of note to create these large boards for display. This one shows two of the Persico men in their childhood on trick ponies they rode in parades and at rodeos. The Persico family has been in Little Lake Valley for many generations.

The spirit of this public art project exemplifies the movement to "public history" that arose around the 1970s and 80s. By engaging local artists, expressing the life of local individuals, and placing the results in high foot traffic locations out in the community, it is definitive of people presenting their own history stories to tell one another, and is strongly influenced by Studs Terkel and his interest in the lives of everyday people rather than just the generals and senators and captains of industry.

Crochet

I was surprised to see all these crocheted doilies at one of the recent Christmas crafts fairs. I didn't think anyone did this kind of handwork anymore, and they were very reasonably priced. Did I buy any? Well, no. I happen to have more of these (in these same patterns) than I will ever have any use for.

I remember some of them draped on the tops of the easy chairs at my grandparents' house. And under vases on the mantle. I rarely use them myself, but they remind me of my mother's stories of going to San Francisco every Christmas, where her Danish grandparents lived and my grandmother grew up. Christmas Eve was the time for the main festivities, and smatterings of the old language were sprinkled in the conversations of the elders, surrounded by dark wood floors and oriental carpets and pipesmoke. Souvenirs of the sea captain's travels to every continent were displayed here and there. Woven paper hearts and real candles were on the tree. Is it possible to inherit memories?

I'll be away from my computer soon, making more memories with Mom.

A Light In The Darkness

The Willits Charter School recently made news for being awarded a bronze rating among schools across the nation by USNews and World Report. This lovely mosaic bench sits just outside the school entrance. I'm glad to have something bright to post on a very rainy day.

Night Sky in Blue

This home on wheels parked next to the County Library, possibly to pick up the WiFi signal, or the go inside to enjoy the printed treasures found there. Whoever owns this appreciates the power of words, some of which you can see by clicking on this image to its full size.

Blue Sky at Night

Mendocino county is rich with artists, and the Willits area is no exception. We have musicians, painters, sculptors, writers, actors, poets, and artisanal craftworkers of every sort, and often widely known. Blue Sky Gallery provides a retail outlet for a select few of them, with art glass, jewelery, paintings and ceramics regularly on offer. You probably don't remember that I posted their front step many months ago. That koi pond is still one of my favorite art finds.

With daylight in short supply, it turns out some of our shops are easier to photograph at night! Okay, Willits may not be Yellowknife, but still it's dark before I leave work. Today, many of these uptown Main Street businesses organized early shopping hours, because for some mysterious reason, people seem to love to shop for Christmas gifts the day after our Thanksgiving holiday. Personally, I can't imagine getting up in the dark, early hours of the morning to shop, but if you want to dive in starting at 6:00 AM this morning, these merchants will be ready to help you.

Art Butterfield Memorial Photography Show

The fifth annual Willits Photo Club show, now named in honor of a late and inspiring member, opened Saturday night with a lovely and well attended reception. The latest information I have indicates there were 41 photographers exhibiting 318 photographs in all. This show runs through November 30th, and gallery hours are Thursdays through Sundays. Check the Willits Center for the Arts website for more specifics.

Right, so up above there, do you see the black and white photo of the jagged crest of the awe-inspiring Patagonian Andes? And next to it, the wraiths of clouds caressing the sheer granite cliffs of Yosemite Valley? Those aren't mine.

Mine are the four colored canvases stacked, meaningfully enough I thought, next to an open glass panel door. Each depict openings which are shut, in some way. But really, they are just three walls and a railroad car, and were posted on this blog earlier in the year. When I did catch a few people looking at them, the expressions were typically gape-mouthed bafflement. This is the first time I ever put up anything of mine in an art gallery, so some seriously narcissistic curiosity kicked in and I tended very much to linger in the front lobby area to see how people might respond. Or if they would even look.




Finally, someone mercifully reminded me that there were a lot of spectacular photos to see in the two gallery showrooms, the rest of the lobby, the hallway, the reception room, the stairwell, and the vast upstairs gallery and events venue. Did I mention there were 318 photographs, and a lot of people looking at them? Kudos to the hard working volunteers from the Photo Club, who spent countless hours organizing and installing this event. All I did was put my own up on the wall.

To see more of the reception for this show, please look at my Overflow blog. And of course, there's an Animoto, for those of you who like that sort of thing.

Painting for Peace

A multi-artist show at the Willits Center for the Arts includes this painting by Judy Geer, "The Four Horsemen of the DNC and RNC" (Democratic National Convention; Republican National Convention). It combines her experiences and impressions as a peace demonstrator at those events. The show, "Round Too", can be seen until October 26th.

Harmless Fool

Well, whoever this person is, I hope they are as harmless as they claim. The truck certainly brightened up an otherwise gray day. Anyone care to interpret the meaning of the artwork?

August Evening Art

Saturday evening, I ventured out to investigate the music on offer at the Mendonesia Cafe, and my trek took me right past the Willits Center for the Arts. Music was playing, people were gathering, and the place just glowed with a reception for a new show by three artists, "I Dreamed I Was Not Alone". Sheri Howe, Jim Shorba, and Cynda Valle are all local, and very interesting. I've got an Animoto of more pictures, or you can view full sized images on my Overflow.

Mendonesia Wall

I strolled past the open door of Mendonesia Cafe recently, and spotted the late afternoon sun illuminating the interior wall through a window I photographed before. The owner currently displays artwork done by some Mendocino College painting students.

Last night, an accordionist named Amber Lee rocked the house.

Fanciful Footwear

I'm running short of time tonight, so what better than to dip into the spring photo archives for a shot I have long wanted to display. The shop owner of Mazahar on Main Street takes regular trips around the Near East, and often comes back with interesting new inventory. These desert boots were among her finds, and are so inspiring. I wonder if I can find anything in my closet I could customize with such abandon.

Ropin' A Star

Whatever you do, do not interpret this as a scene from Dr. Strangelove. This is not meant to depict Slim Pickens riding a nuclear warhead, hooting and hollering, in the climax of that movie. Just put that out of your mind. (It's a great movie - if you haven't seen it lately or ever, do rent it.)

The theme for this year's Frontier Days was "Ropin' A Star", and this entry won the under-20ft. class judging for the parade. See the star on the top of the truck in front, and the rope extending to it? Hey, they really went for it!

A variety of other entrants are pictured on my Overflow blog.

Code Pink Bakes Up Some Justice

The local branch of the anti-war group Code Pink were out in force for the Frontier Days parade. The small population of Mendocino county encompasses a broad spectrum of political and social views, and everyone seems to co-exist when livelihoods are not directly threatened. More photos of Code Pink before the procession are on my Overflow blog.

I must admit, I had a goosebump moment at the rodeo on Friday when the announcer, killing a few minutes between roping events, asked the audience if they thought McCain would be our next president. I didn't hear much of anything, but I assumed a typically Republican crowd was just caught off guard. A moment later, he asked who thought Obama would be president. A clearly audible roar of approval came out. I had heard support previously for Obama, from a Republican I see regularly, but I was not prepared for the rodeo reaction. I think the announcer was very surprised. Amazing and inspiring.