Del Oro Theater shows classic films to raise funds for murals

posted by CSWalczak on September 22, 2009 at 9:45 am

GRASS VALLEY, CA — The Del Oro Theater is currently running a series of classic films to raise funds to complete the creation of wall murals reflecting the town’s mining history. The theater was built in 1940.

Getz said he is confident the money will be raised to complete the project, which has been in the works since the design was unveiled in March 2007.

In the last week, the mural’s artist, John Pugh, has added another strip of the painting. Pugh has been working in bursts and during the night to get the project done, but there is no estimated date of completion, Getz said.

Read more in in The Union and at the theater’s website.

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Comments (4)

GaryParks
GaryParks on September 23, 2009 at 10:47 pm

Being from the San Jose Area, I know muralist John Pugh’s work. His original works are stunning. I don’t know anything about what he does in the realm of restoring historic works, but I know he’s got the paint brush chops to do it. My wife and I used to perform music and hang out a lot at (now defunct)Espresso Garden Cafe in San Jose, and we’re very familiar with his mural there (now in storage), “Life Imitating Art Imitating Life.” Our favorite Chinese restaurant, Mandarin Gourmet, in Cupertino, also has a fine mural by him. Outside examples of his work exist in downtown Los Gatos (one with a Mayan theme), and a street scene in Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto. There is also a coffee table book on his murals. Don’t know the title, but it should be easily searched online.

GaryParks
GaryParks on September 23, 2009 at 10:54 pm

Clarification from the article: John Pugh is not doing restoration of the murals inside the theatre, but is designing a new mural to replace the one (from the 70s?) on the exterior rear wall of the theatre.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on September 23, 2009 at 10:57 pm

This is going to be an outdoor mural; there is a small picture of what it is going to look like on the theater’s website (under special events). It will cover parts of two exterior walls of the theater that meet at a 90 degree angle. It will appear to be a cutaway view.

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