Monday's Mural: Genesis...

Located above a portico of Frary Hall, Pomona College, the Genesis mural, painted by Rico Lebrun, was painted during the autumn of 1960. Lebrun created this monochromatic work in response to viewing the monumental Prometheus, by Jose Clemente Orozco, painted inside this same building, during a campus visit in 1956. The following description is from Claremont Heritage:

Standing on the center of Frary Hall’s entry arch, the monumental figure of Noah, expanded in stature by the folds of his patchwork cloak, bows his head as he tightly embraces the smaller figure of his son beneath the skeletal ribs of the wreckage of his ark. The scene, the event following the destruction by the flood, represents both the survival of the human race and the redemption of mankind. The focus of the composition, the scene is flanked by other events from the book of Genesis. Lower left, Adam and Eve depart the Garden of Eden, anguished and writhing in shame as the images of their sons, Cain and Abel, issue forth from their heads. The figures, locked in embrace, perhaps symbolize the fusion of the tendencies toward both good and evil which dwell in the souls of all mankind.

The destruction of Sodom and Gemorrah occupies the rounded lunette above Cain and Abel. Punishment is loosed upon those who stray from the moral laws of a just but vengeful God. The lunette to the right of the mutilated pile of Sodom and Gemorrah’s victims depicts Job, also a biblical victim of God’s judgment. But here the motive for punishment remains ambiguous, as though human misery so often has no reasonable or rational foundation. This scene is the only one in the mural not drawn from the book of Genesis.

The lower right scene returns the viewer to the central theme: the flood. Here doomed victims struggle in vain to escape the rising waters. God’s destruction of all people is indicated, save for the faithful Noah and his kin.

I took the overall photo a number of years ago (I can tell, because that is my very first mountain bike which made its way into the view), but the space is too dark to get any decent shot with a handheld camera. I went back more recently with a tripod to get the detailed photos. This one is so big, it really needs to be seen in person, so ride on over and check it out. Actually, I think we need to do a mural ride one of these months.

Monday's Mural...

This one is on the back wall of the Folk Music Center. Since it is the back wall facing onto a small parking lot between the buildings along Yale Avenue and the back of city hall, it probably doesn't get the attention of some of the other murals around town. It is very accessible by bike though, and clearly, it brightens an otherwise drab spot. I have no information on the artist, though the theme is self-evident, in keeping with the nature of the business inside. Since my son takes guitar lessons there, I will have to ask around one of these days - find out what they know about the mural. The Folk Music Center may be the most interesting shop in Claremont, if for nothing else but to view their great collection of instruments from around the world. They also hold some fun little concerts inside, as well as open mic sessions, and organize the Claremont Folk Music Festival every other year. I especially like how people will just wander in, pick up a guitar, mandolin, or whatever, and just start playing. You can also pick up a bunch of bicycle advocacy stickers and buttons there as well, you know those ones with slogans such as "go by bike" or "bikes not bombs".

Monday's Mural...

today's edition of the Monday Mural, is the latest installation outside the house along Berkeley Avenue, which I have mentioned before. ride along the street, you will spot it, it is there for all to enjoy.

Monday's mural...

This one must be a relatively recent creation, otherwise my powers of observation must be greatly diminished, because I just noticed it today. It is on a wall opposite Pitzer College's Green Bike Shop, where I had stopped to take some photos of another creation, quite fit for royalty which will be unveiled soon. One of the things I like most about living close to institutions of higher learning are the political and social messages that are generated at such places, and this small mural fits right in. I also like the juxtaposition of the bicycle in the foreground - there are few tools more empowering than the simple bicycle.

Monday's mural...

well, not an actual mural this time, but art anyway. Not sure when I first began to notice these little art exhibitions arrayed outside a house on Berkley Avenue, but it is always a pleasant surprise to come riding along and see the color and creativity on display. The exhibits change periodically, and I wish I had taken photos of all the different ones, but only have these two. Don't know if the young artists live at the house, or if they are from a day care, or what, but it is a very cool little taste of the Claremont art scene.

Monday's mural...

I always imagined this mural painted on the side of a house in the Village area as representing an actual event in the lives of the family living there; the cat perhaps stuck up in the heights of the tree branches. The same sort of tree is just to the left, out of the frame.

Monday's mural...

There are a plethora of these small murals on building columns and balcony walls of dorms and other buildings around the campus of Pitzer College. For the most part they are student creations, and I suspect for that reason very few have any documentation. This one derives from a well-known portrait of Dakota leader Medicine Bottle (Wa-kan-o-zhan-zhan). Medicine Bottle participated in the war between the Dakota and United States, known to US history as the Minnesota Massacre, in 1862. Following the war he escaped to Canada, but was discovered, drugged and brought back to the United States, where in 1865 he was hanged.

I don't know if it was because today was the first day of summer and the sun was shining bright, though not hot, but there were a lot of folks out on bikes during the evening ride home. It was awesome; whatever was going on, lets have more of it. Wish I had a way to keep my camera in a more handy location, it would have made an interesting excercise to take a photo of each person I saw.

Monday's mural...

Of all the murals in Claremont this is the prize, the grand-daddy of them all. It is actually a series of nine panels painted along the interior courtyard wall of the Margaret Fowler Garden, Scripps College. The murals date to 1947, and were painted by Mexican muralist Ramos Martinez. More information here.

What makes this series of murals especially unique is the setting in which they are found, the Margaret Fowler Garden. Here the yellow Basso leans against a column almost completely entangled by a massive wisteria vine.

Monday's mural...

Almost perfect camoflage for the yellow Basso is this minimalist mural on a wall of Mead Hall at Pitzer College. I do not have an information on it, but if nothing else it certainly provides a nice backdrop for the blooming aloe in front of it.

Monday's mural...

In order to provide a little color to Monday morning, I am going to take a cue from Bike NOPA (whose series on murals up in the Bay Area is pretty cool), and post up my own little series on Claremont murals. Many of these were created by well-known artists, others by students of the Claremont Colleges. Most of them can only be viewed by foot or bike. In fact I first discovered the wealth or murals around here, soon after relocating to the town; we would take our, then 5 year old son, down to the colleges to ride around, especially during the summer when the campuses are mostly traffic free, and we could explore the courtyards, fountains, sculpture gardens, museums, etc.

This first mural is "Interhueman" painted by Paul Botello, and students of Pitzer College in 1997. This is a large mural, covering the entire side wall of a building and I did not have the correct lens with me to capture the entire painting. Four figures are shown, chained together, representing the unity of all humanity. Depictions of the four elements symbolize our tenuous relationship to the natural environment.