A new 800-foot mural is in the making on a retaining wall along Main Street between Pennsylvania Drive and Clifford Avenue.
With a theme of Pajaro Pollination, artists from the Made Fresh Crew of Santa Cruz started the project Aug. 15 and brushed on the last paint Aug. 24.
“The theme involves local indigenous people, working the soil and native species,” said Taylor Reinhold, who is the project manager of the massive Sea Walls mural project in Santa Cruz. “It’s moving along quickly and I think it looks great so far.”
Reinhold added that the mural stems from a Caltrans grant, which is also funding landscaping upgrades around the mural.
“It’s a win-win situation,” Reinhold said. “The landscaping gets a boost on top of a new mural going up.”
He said it marks the first time Caltrans is working with area artists on such projects that are also unfolding in Hollister, San Juan Bautista and Salinas.
Santiago Garcia, resident engineer with Caltrans, said the work is part of the Clean California project that includes several projects in Watsonville.
“I really like this project and I’m anxious to see the end result,” Garcia said. “We will also have an artist paint a traffic control utility box on Main Street as well. Our project in Watsonville consists of planting, irrigation and transportation art along the Highway 129 and 152/Main Street corridor.”
I’ve noticed that several of the images in this mural have been removed. What’s the story behind these images being removed