(English)
(Español)
This is the 8th of 9 murals painted in the community from 1998 to 2007. It is located at 136 North 10th Street. This mural was Completed in 2004 by Muralist Wei Luan.
Since the 1890s, Santa Paula has been a nurturing ground for many talented artists and architects, whose works have enriched our community, the state, and the nation.
Among these outstanding artists are Jessie Arms Botke (Botka) and her husband Cornelis Botke. Jessie’s decorative paintings, featuring exotic birds and gold leaf applications, and Cornelis’ landscapes and still life’s in oil and etching, have earned places in the Smithsonian. The couple also collaborated on several murals, blending their distinctive styles.
Contemporaries of the Botkes included Douglas Shively, affectionately known as Mr. Sycamore for his captivating local landscapes. Robert Clunie, another plein air painter, gained renown for his majestic depictions of the Sierras, where he traveled and eventually retired. Photographer Horace Bristol achieved national recognition for his poignant Depression-era photos, documenting the lives of migrant workers for Life Magazine alongside John Steinbeck.
Santa Paula’s architectural heritage began with Herman Anlauf, who designed the landmark Faulkner House in 1894 with Franklin Ward. The city’s first licensed architect, Roy C. Wilson, established a firm that spanned over fifty years and became the most prolific in Ventura County. Many architects launched their careers here, including Robert Raymond, known for the 1930 Masonic Lodge, and John Stroh, celebrated for designing St. Sebastian’s Church in 1951.
Together, these artists and architects have left an indelible mark, shaping the cultural and architectural landscape of Santa Paula.
