Interpretive Plaques - "Past, Present & Future" at Ukiah Valley Conference Center

Who are the portraits in the mural? The interpretive plaques tell the stories of these people, places, buildings and symbols.

It’s time to install the plaques!

Then you can read whose portrait that is, why Nixon appears on a coin-operated TV, what’s with the suffragists and a bike? And much more!

The plaques’ content and design is complete, my work partly funded by the Community Foundation. The high quality exterior signs were printed by Banners and Signs in Ukiah with funding from a local donor.

A finished plaque — One of the plaques, showing how it will look on the wall.

How the plaques will look on the wall — One of the plaques, showing how it will look on the wall.

All that remains is to go through the city’s permit process.

I would love to get your support!

A view of the mural wall indicating where the plaques will be mounted — Where the plaques will be mounted

Send me an email in favor of the permit, which begins with Ukiah’s Planning Department referral to the Design Review Board and Planning Commission for approval.

Please know that I will pay the FULL $450 permit fee and am offering the plaques to the city AT NO COST.
I have a contractor ready to install the plaques for FREE in accordance with the city’s desired method.
I am also providing maintenance and/or replacement to the City for FREE.

(In other words, there is no burden to the city.)

See all eight Interpretive Plaques below

Why are the plaques such a big deal?

Imagery can always stand alone, but this mural tells personal stories illustrating the region’s history and contains over 200 portraits of real people. The mural was the first to go through the city’s new Public Art process and it was created with that policy in mind:

“Public art creates a unique sense of place and communicates a strong civic identity for the City of Ukiah”
-First sentence of the City of Ukiah’s Public Art Policy, Section I. Purpose

Whether viewers are local or visiting, understanding the stories and portraits in the mural can enhance their sense of connection to the Ukiah Valley.

Mural detail of air tanker dropping fire retardant — Air tanker dropping fire retardant during the Mendocino Complex fire in 2018; CalFire members; Factory Pipe team in front of depiction of the facility

CalFire members looking at mural painting of firefighters — Air tanker dropping fire retardant during the Mendocino Complex fire in 2018; CalFire members; Factory Pipe team in front of depiction of the facility

The plaques are important because they help achieve the themes I was given for the mural competition:

Pride in our unique and diverse community
Ukiah’s characteristic landscape of agriculture and beautiful natural scenery
A positive sense of the future

Mural detail of a Native healer, a mother and child, an African-American boy and a dog — “Pride in our Unique and Diverse Community”

Native student group whose portraits are in the mural — “Pride in our Unique and Diverse Community”

The images above are all from the final, double panel! See more here Section Six and below:

The entire completed twenty-sixth panel titled "Our Future Together" — “A Positive Sense of the Future”

The other reason the plaques are essential is simply access. Not everyone has a smartphone or even wants to go online while standing outside. The plaques make this content accessible to all.

Two women recognize the portrait of Judy Pruden

Young man with his dog whose portrait is in the mural

What can you do to help?

Please email me a Letter of Support for the permit application, which begins with Ukiah’s Planning Department. Staff refer the application to the Design Review Board and Planning Commission for approval.

Also see and comment on all the latest posts on my Facebook and Instagram. I can include your comments in my permit application.

And if you care to contribute to the $450 permit fee, please go to the mural’s GoFundMe page!