The City of Temecula, Community Services Department, and the Temecula Valley Museum seek to support emerging artists by providing a space to showcase their craft. Each month or two, student artists will have the opportunity, facilitated by Bigfoot Graphics, to paint a mural on varying topics. For information on how to get involved, call 951-694-6450.

March / April 2022 – This beautiful mural was created by 18 year artist Tommy Gonzales, graduate of Great Oak High School and current student of Oregon State University.

This mural celebrating Earth Day was inspired by the Pechanga Band of Luisano Indians. States artist Tommy Gonzales, “Pu’éska Mountain, which is represented in the mural, is sacred to the Luiseño people of Southern California. The mural seeks to not only represent the indigenous tribes of the area, but their love and perspective on nature. With a rich history and religion that is closely intertwined with Earth and all of her beauty, this mural works to honor the Luiseños and the place “where the rocks cry”. It is the perfect representation for Earth Day, here in the beautiful Temecula Valley.
January/February 2022 – In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and American Black History Month, this stunning mural was created by 12 -year old artist AJ Pederson with contributors Kaia Bo and Landon Stingle. AJ states, “I want this mural to inspire people of all ages to pick up a pencil and start drawing.

This beautiful mural features Dr. King as he delivers his most famous and compelling speech calling for the end of racism at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom held in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, August, 28, 1963. The purpose of this march was to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans.
December 2021 – The Mural featured artist Joenell Edsel Zenobious Luma’s vision of Christmas Throughout The World.   Mr. Luma was asked to create a mural in celebration of the Temecula Valley Museum’s annual event, celebrating  the Christmas traditions and cultures of countries we have “visited” during our monthly Second Saturday Cultural Celebration events. 
 
This stunning mural, painted by Mr. Luma and his youth contributors Gerard J. Luma and Jon Evens Luma featured iconic structures throughout the globe, including our own Temecula Arches designed by the renowned Temecula Artist, the late Robert Morris.
November 2021 – This beautiful mural was created by Pechanga Chámmakilawish School Students, lead by Principal Andrew Maisel and third grade teacher Amalika Jackson; the students’ vision was to present a collection of ideas and concepts that represent the Luiseño people, culture, and life. The school consulted with Myra Maisel of Pechanga Cultural Resources and Vanessa Hogan of Tribal Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to plan the artwork, representing Native life in the valley, both past and present.

Artist Junior Villalobos sketched out the mural, featuring The Great Oak Tree, an eagle, native plants, the Pechanga Casino, an automobile, and featuring youth participating in traditional games and living in traditional Kíicha (homes). The mural was a true group effort, with every child (ages 3 to 10) adding to the artwork. The artists came from the Mommy & Me group, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten to Fifth Grade students, all adding bits of color and artistry to proudly represent their people, the Payómkawichum, which means the People of the West in the Pechanga language.
October 2021 – In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month which is observed annually from September 15th to October 15th, this mural has a Hispanic Heritage Month theme. Created by Palomar College student Cheyenne Hernandez, her goal was to include shapes of all the Hispanic Nations around the world, choosing very bright colors to represent the tremendous culture, heritage and passion that is alive within Hispanic people.

September 2021 – In celebration of Citizenship Day on September 17, 2021, this mural has a Temecula Citizenship theme. Created by art student Isabel Ivy Wallace, a recent graduate of Springs Charter School, her goal was to capture the essence of the citizens of Temecula, crediting her friends for encouraging her and her parents for being the inspiration for the faces.

August 2021 – In celebration of the National Women’s Equality Day on August 26, 2021, this mural has a Women’s Equality theme. Created by Bigfoot Graphics art instructor Katinka Clementsmith and art students Margaret Ozolins, Sarah Ozolins, Aja Pederson (11), and Reese Lockerman (11), their goal was to inspire young girls to follow their dreams, and encourage other role models to be their inspiration. They painted a variety of girls dreaming of reaching goals that are either not yet afforded to women, or that are uncommon for women today. Said the team “We hope to inspire a new generation of girls to continue changing our world in a direction of equality for all.”

July 2021- In celebration of the founding of our Country, this mural has a Fourth of July theme. The mural was created by retired Temecula Valley Unified School District Art and History Teacher Bonnie Martland, and two of her grandchildren, Anneke and Jack Martland, ages six and nine. Anneke and Jack have taken on-line art classes with Tony Moramarco of Big Foot Graphics Studio. Tony is a former art student of their grandmother, Bonnie, so, the art lessons have come full circle and creativity is being paid forward through to the next generation!

Bonnie and her husband are former Army Officers. As a Veteran and a history major, it is not surprising that her favorite holiday is Fourth of July. Not to mention, that her first date with her husband of over 53 years was on July 4, 1967 to view the Independence Day fireworks at Fort Benjamin Harrison, where they were both temporarily stationed. When asked to design a mural for July, how could she not celebrate Independence Day! The meaning of some of the words on the mural were new to the children. So, a little lesson developed about the word “Liberty” and why it is important that we celebrate the Fourth of July. Bonnie hopes that when the mural is viewed, the design will engender a feeling of patriotism and thankfulness, and that other families might also contemplate the word “Liberty” and be grateful for the many freedoms we enjoy.
June 2021 – Temecula high school students, facilitated by Great Oak High School’s Black Student Union Media Director, Phylicia Joseph, took their inspiration from Jane Hartman, Distinguished Fellow and resident Emerita at the Wilson Center, a non-partisan policy forum for tackling global issues, and 44th President Barack Obama. Said Ms. Hartman, “True justice and equality continue to be a distant dream for too many in this country, and we must not allow the important progress we have made to blind us from the struggles that still persist”. On a previous observance of Juneteenth, President Obama declared “the slaves of Galveston knew their freedom was only a first step, just as the bloodied foot soldiers who crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge 100 years later knew they had to keep marching.”
These sentiments inspired the students to create a mural commemorating Juneteenth celebrating the progress that has been made while still respecting the struggles that persist, by showcasing the talents of African American students and residents in our community and their part in the “important progress” towards equality and representation. Social Media: @officialgohsbsu @phyliciamjoseph @riveraimagery
May 2021 – In honor of Japan’s “Children’s Day” celebration, former Great Oak High School student artist Ly Bucci and UC Irvine student Amanda Le created this mural. States artist Ly Bucci “Since this was in tribute to Temecula’s Sister City Daisen, Amanda and I wanted to incorporate some known things in Japanese culture, along with memories of their festive events held in Old Town Temecula, such as the Children’s Day Festival, complete with Koinobori carp streamers and the origami. I’ve always admired the cherry blossom trees and I’m always fascinated with their dragons so I wanted to add that”.
Artist Amanda Le added, I wanted to show the connection between the two sister cities, Temecula and Daisen by placing the Torii gate in the middle of the mural, and including the mountains to represent Mount Daisen on the side. We added lots of color and balloons to bring out a feeling of joy and happiness with hope that we inspire that connection in every corner of this mural”. Instagram for Ms. Bucci is @ TenguHarley Instagram for Ms. Le is @amanngle.
April 2021 – This month, in celebration of the nearing of the end of our COVID-19 Pandemic, Bigfoot Graphics student artist Sabina Rose Flores created this mural celebrating the end of the 1918 Pandemic. “I wanted this mural to convey the severity of the pandemic of 1918. I designed the mural with the intent of showing the process and stages of going through a pandemic which is why it is divided into three main sections. A graveyard symbolizing death and lives lost, medical staff taking the sick to the hospitals for care, And lastly empty hospital beds symbolizing recovery and that the pandemic had come to an end. It’s odd to create something that is about an event that occurred a hundred years ago when the world is currently facing a similar situation. I’d like to think my mural conveys hope and acts as a testament that all pandemics will eventually end”. Social Media: @anonymous.__.weirdoInstagram
March 2021 – Student Artist Charlie Lively created this mural in celebration of Women’s History Month. Said Ms. Lively, “For my mural I was inspired by impactful women throughout history. I decided to go with a black and white portrait theme with a bright and vibrant background to help the women stand out. There is also a quote by each woman relating to one of their accomplishments or actions through their life”. Women featured on the mural include Scientist Madam Marie Curie, Civic Rights Activist Rosa Parks, Sports Legend Billie Jean King, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Student Rights Leader Malala Yousafzai.
February 2021 – This inaugural mural was conceived by student Phylicia Joseph, President of the Black Student Union at Great Oak High School, and painted by students at Great Oak High School, Temecula Valley High School, Chaparral High School and AFJROTC; including Chelsea Ross, Chase Ruffing, Mekhi Herd, Makhel Herd, Avery Shartzer, DeAnna Davis, Kayla Tran, Guylan Belser, Paul Yun, and Phylicia Joseph. Depicted on the mural include WWII Hero Waverly Bernard Woodson, Jr., Poet Amanda Gordon, Actress Cicely Tyson and Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King.

 

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