The Renaissance of Antonelli Pond

Artist Paul Roehl remembers the splendor of Antonelli Pond several decades ago. He would take his young son exploring there, sometimes doing a little fishing.

“We would walk around the pond and over the railroad bridge. It was a little treasure full of bird life, a heritage property of Santa Cruz. It’s a beautiful spot and it could be fantastic, but so many people don’t even know it’s there,” Roehl said.

But the pond, owned by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, fell on hard times. Trash built up from homeless encampments and invasive, non native plants swallowed up the greenbelt. Although Jeff Helmer, a land steward with LTSCC for the last 25 years, tried to maintain the historic pond, it was beyond the scope of a single person, no matter his commitment.

Two years ago the Trust and their volunteers began to doggedly clean up the space with the goal of making it “pristine” again. Unbeknownst to Roehl two dreams were converging. In the meantime, he had painted “Antonelli Pond.”

A few years ago the Land Trust had opened up their properties to local artists and, of course, Roehl chose to paint his favorite old haunt. The organization sponsored a showing at Pajaro Valley Arts Center. "It was such a great success. I hope they do it again," he said.

Although the Westside resident had started his career as a modern, contemporary printmaker, he became inspired to learn the early 19^th century techniques of the French Barbizon School. “Those painters saw more in the landscape than the landscape. They saw the celebration of nature.”

Like those painters, Roehl’s idealized “Antonelli Pond” evokes a twilight feeling with foreboding clouds above the water glistening with their reflection. “There’s a lot of artistic license in what I do. So if nature isn’t doing what I want it to do, I try to manipulate it so I get a good painting, not just a depiction of what I saw. What counts is the painting, not just an accurate depiction of what you saw. But what you’re after is something that speaks.”

Although the Land Trust cannot turn the pond into Roehl’s romantic vision under the guidance of Lynn Overtree, Stewardship Manager, staff and volunteers have planted natives like the sticky monkey flower, the California sage, and coffee berry, and the Eagle Scouts have built a kiosk. According to Calah Pasley, Development and Outreach Manager, the Scouts will also complete a fishing dock by the end of the summer.

The organization looks forward to building a boardwalk across the pond’s northern side, so that walkers won’t have to traverse the railroad trestle.  

You can celebrate the renaissance of Antonelli Pond at the Land Trust’s 30^th anniversary party of the  acquisition of the 18-acre pond on Sunday, July 22 from noon to 2 p.m. The organization will provide free Gizdich Ranch pie, Driscoll’s strawberries, and Martinelli’s apple cider. Attendees can bring their own picnic lunch, fishing poles, and dogs.

At 1 p.m. the Land Trust presents a short program and the public can see maps showing future plans including an amphitheatre and forested trails, if they can get funding and volunteers.

The maps also depict the pond's colorful history as the site of a sawmill, begonia farm, dairy, a moonshine distillery, and a set for 10 silent movies.

At 2 p.m. you are invited to tour the Homeless Garden Project adjacent to the pond area.  Sign up for the event at www.LandTrustSantaCruz.org.

The Museum of Art and History owns Roehl’s “Antonelli Pond” and you can see the painting at the upcoming exhibit “Santa Cruz Collects” from August 11-November 25.