10:50am | Artist, and Long Beach State alum, John M. Valadez unveiled his “Welcome To Long Beach” mural at gallery421 on the corner of West Broadway and Magnolia Avenue on August 11, 2011. Situated at the entrance to downtown Long Beach, the massive 60-feet-by-18-feet mural showcases the history and architecture of downtown Long Beach.
“I’m delighted to help celebrate the unveiling of this incredible mural” said Mayor Bob Foster. “I know that this mural will welcome both visitors and residents with this amazing snapshot of Long Beach’s history and colorful heritage.”
The mural site faces traffic traveling east on Broadway. A 19-foot-tall beauty queen waves and smiles while a crowd adores her, an homage to the 1957 Miss Universe Pageant that was held in the old Civic Auditorium and the related procession parade that took place on Ocean Avenue. The top third of the mural includes a flock of pelicans that are painted on aluminum and pushed out from the wall approximately 6 to 18 inches from the mural surface. They are flying across the entire 18-foot width.
The panel facing south on Broadway is a scene from Rainbow Pier, the first pier people used in the early 1920s for fishing and strolling. Although the pier no longer exists, Valadez recreated it from historical photos, including bathers and spectators in 1920s era costumes.
Finally, in keeping with the fun of the mural, Valadez placed a large painted metal cut out inspired by the historic “Spruce Goose” airplane. It is set away from the mural surface and he envisions the airplane will work as a light beacon on the top surface of the mural at night.
“I was trained as a figurative realist artist, and wanted to paint people as they are on the street, while showing our link to our historical roots,” said Valadez. “Downtown Long Beach has changed so much. When I was an art student at Cal State Long Beach, you simply did not come here. Today, the downtown has evolved nicely into a great district with lots of high energy, food, shopping and more that attracts many. And now they all have a new Welcome To Long Beach!”
The colorful two-panel mural has been installed on the exterior walls of gallery421, Lyon Communities’ 291-unit luxury apartment community, which is also home to The Collaborative, a new cultural facility in downtown Long Beach.
The Collaborative is a project of the Arts Council for Long Beach and the Museum of Latin American Art, which presents exhibitions that raise awareness of both emerging artists and new, innovative approaches to art. This project is funded by Lyon Communities, through the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency’s Percent for Public Art Program.
“Lyon Communities is committed to creating best-in-class communities with unmatched amenities that provide residents with a distinctly different, upscale, lifestyle experience,” said Frank T. Suryan, Jr. Chairman and CEO of Lyon Communities. “Welcome to Long Beach proudly adorns gallery421, welcoming everyone who enters downtown Long Beach. This beautiful showcase of our architecture and history demonstrates how the arts serve as an integral part of the fabric of this community.”