Artists Wanted for Scotts Valley's First Mural-In-A-Day Project

Scotts Valley Artisans and the Scotts Valley Arts Commission have decided to start painting the town.

The two organizations are co-sponsoring the first ever Mural-In-A-Day project, which they hope will be only just the beginning of their efforts to put Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz County on the map.

"The idea is that we want to pattern this after a lot of other mural projects that have happened in the state of California and actually all over the world," said Dawn Teall, owner of Scotts Valley Artisans.

It may be the first mural project planned, but that hasn't stopped them from thinking big. The first mural is planned for the blank 93-foot wide and 17-foot high wall that spans Scotts Valley’s CineLux Theater. The Ow family, who owns the building, is thrilled with the project.

"We are really attempting to get public art, and to have it become a centerpiece to our community, not just Scotts Valley but all of Santa Cruz County," said Teall, who notes that the county has one of the highest rates of artists per capita in the nation, right behind New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. It isn't yet known for having an art market though.

But the Mural-In-A-Day project isn't just for attracting tourists and art buyers, it's also geared toward the community who is invited to watch and celebrate on July 28, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. as the mural is being painted.

It's also a gesture for many local artists ad the project will involve not just the artist whose entry wins the final design, but several artists to help with the painting.

"We'll probably have some 40 artists climbing all over the wall on scaffolding painting their section," Teall said.

Design entries, which are being accepted until June 15 at 4:30 p.m., are for the entire wall, but Teall says they are also accepting entries for just one of the five sections of the wall. 

"[Only] if we get several different section designs that are cohesive," Teall said. 

The theme, "Scotts Valley at the Movies," embraces the history of Scotts Valley in the movies, which is actually quite vibrant. Did you know Alfred Hitchcock lived in Scotts Valley for over 40 years? His estate is now Heart of the Mountain Winery. 

There were also 75 silent movies and 25 “talkies” filmed in and around Scotts Valley beginning in the early 1900s, some starring well-known actors like Bette Davis, Ralph Bellamy, Mickey Rooney, Maureen O’Sullivan, Robert Montgomery and Mary Pickford.  

"Because this year’s mural project will go on a wall with five divided sections, we envision five different scenes of 1920s-1950s movie-making, movie stars, Alfred Hitchcock and his estate, movie posters, film reels … the possibilities are endless," writes Teall in the call for artists. 

For more information on submitting an entry for the Mural-In-A-Day project, email Dawn at dawn@scottsvalleyartisans.com.