Library of My Youth, Chapter 3

Okay, I’ll quit stalling now. This is what the Ivanhoe Library mural project gave to the potential artists.

First, I introduced myself with this.

“I am very pleased to be able to submit two designs for the library of my youth. I grew up outside of Ivanhoe, attending Ivanhoe Elementary School K-8. I credit my 6th grade teacher, Tom Stroben, with teaching me to draw, and much of my childhood was spent reading books from this library. It would be a huge honor to be selected as the muralist for this Tulare County treasure.”

And this is what I submitted for the long wall.

This is the explanation that accompanied the sample. The selection committee didn’t ask for this, but they got it anyway.

West Wall is an orange grove with the mountains in the distance and three insets. The mural shows a picker on a ladder (partially hidden), smudge pots, and a wind machine. In the distance are the Sierra Nevada as the peaks show on a clear day from Ivanhoe. The insets are (L to R) Twin Buttes (a geographical landmark north of Ivanhoe), an old citrus label from Klink Citrus (chosen because of the colorful rooster and the name “Venice Cove”, a nod to another geographical landmark, Venice Hills, east of Ivanhoe), and the old Ivanhoe School Auditorium, which housed the school library in the years I attended school there. (1964-1973).  

Okay, I’m going to drag this out for another day. Next post about this project will appear on Monday, November 27.

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5 Comments

  1. Congratulations Jana!! You are the perfect person to do the Ivanhoe Library mural! Can’t wait to see it!
    Hugs
    Melissa

    • Melissa, I certainly hope this comes to fruition. There have been some empty promises made in the past, so I will try to keep my excitement in check.

  2. Are the insets an essential part of your vision for the mural? I get that they are part of Ivanhoe history, but to me they are intrusive and spoil the panoramic view of the orange trees and mountains. Especially the Twin Buttes one, placed at an odd angle. Maybe you could include those in the entryway area instead.

    • Marjie, the committee chose my design as submitted. Since it took them far longer than expected or announced, I am loathe to do anything at all to delay the project! The inset type of design is something I’ve done multiple times on previous murals, so it has become something I am known for.

  3. Oh, you tease! 🙂

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