Oak Tree Display Recognizing the Historical Role of Native Americans in Southern California

A new art display recognizing the oak trees sacred to Southern California's Native American tribes has recently been installed in the Student Success Center at UC Riverside (900 University Ave, Riverside, CA).  The display was made from oak trees that were felled for the construction of the building.  The art display has been the focus of a recent Inside UCR News article and contains several elements.  One is a map made from oak planks with acrylic panels that illustrates the historic territory of Native American tribes in Southern California. There is also a large screen display which shows a short video providing background on the display and Native American contributions. Also as described in the article, along the top of the display is UCR’s Native American Land Acknowledgement, in which the campus recognizes its responsibility to the Cahuilla, Tongva, Luiseño, and Serrano peoples as the original and current caretakers of the land, water, and air.  Along the bottom is an apology to the oak trees that once stood there, promising that UCR will “continue to remember and honor the oak trees through the beauty they provide in this art installation.” The display was a joint effort of multiple groups within and outside of UCR. Joaquin Torango, a coordinator with Native American Student Programs, sketched out the idea for the map display, and Chagrin Valley Custom Furniture, an Ohio-based company that specializes in handcrafted furniture constructed the display. The company’s creative director, Sky Ironhorse, also worked with UCR on the display.  

#UC Riverside #Native American #Indigenous peoples #oak #Southern California #Inland Empire Art

Fairmount Park Sign

A new monument-style sign marking the entrance to Fairmount Park (about 2427 Market Street, Riverside, CA) has recently been erected.  The style is very similar to the signs marking the entrance into Riverside, including one sign just to the north along Market Street.  The designer is unknown.  

#Riverside California #Fairmount Park #raincross 

STEM Mural at Casa Blanca Elementary School

A new STEM-themed mural has been painted at the new Casa Blanca Elementary School (7351 Lincoln Ave., Riverside, CA).  Interestingly the illustrations within each letter represent tools or symbols used by each discipline. The mural is unsigned.  

#STEM school #Casa Blanca #RUSD #Riverside Unified School District

Loveridge Medallion at City Hall

A medallion recognizing the many years of public service by former Mayor Ron Loveridge has been placed near the entryway to Riverside's City Hall (3900 Main St, Riverside, CA).  The artist is unknown.

#Riverside City Hall, #Mayor, #City Council, #City Hall

Selected Oranges from the 2006 Giant Orange Artventure

In 2006, the Art Alliance of the Riverside Art Museum held a Giant Orange Artventure to raise money for the museum.  Thirty-two large oranges were sponsored and displayed at various locations in downtown Riverside.  As can be seen elsewhere on this blog, eight of the original oranges can still be found throughout Riverside. Below are photos of oranges that are no longer displayed that I took when the oranges were on public display in 2006.  I am including them on this blog to keep an online historical record of these works of art.  

"Under the Citrus Sun" by Greg & Cathy Maxwell

Another view of "Under the Citrus Sun" by by Greg & Cathy Maxwell

“Orange Glow” by Joanna Mersereau

“Mother Nature & Sustainability” by Carolyn Ward Billington

Another view of “Mother Nature & Sustainability” by Carolyn Ward Billington

"Reflections" by Daniel Foster

"Juicy Scoop" by The Press-Enterprise Artists (Arnel S. Cadatal, Peggy Statti, Don Daniels and Susan Newman)

“The Awakening Muse” by Leslie A. Brown

Another view of “The Awakening Muse” by Leslie A. Brown

“La Naranja” by Lorien Suarez

“Bearing Fruit” by Greg Adamson

Another view of “Bearing Fruit” by Greg Adamson

“The Great Crate” by Helen Bell

A tribute to UCR Citrus History on one of the oranges.  I believe that this is a section of the "The Long and Rinding Road" by Michael J. Elderman

#Riverside Art Alliance, #Riverside Art Museum, #orange art, #Inland Empire artists, #Riverside artists

Gabbert Judicial Plaza Monument and Medallion

The plaza at 3650 11th St, Riverside, CA, outside the Riverside Hall of Justice where the Superior Court of California of Riverside County convenes, has been named after Justice John G. Gabbert, former judge, scholar, and leader in the Riverside community, and a monument has been placed at its entrance in his honor.  The archway-shaped monument contains a medallion and summary information on Gabbert's life and contributions to the area.  The artist and designer are unknown. 

#Superior Court of California, #Riverside County, #City of Riverside, #landmark, 

Raincross Sculpture at City Hall

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the City Hall building (3900 Main St, Riverside, CA), new raincross sculpture has been erected on the north side of City Hall along the downtown pedestrian mall.  The sculpture was made for the occasion by Rico Alderette @ricoald and his colleagues at Alderette Designs @alderette_designs. Councilman Phillip Falcone and Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson also helped lead the project.  This particular raincross appears to have some Japanese influences, possibly related to Riverside's connection to Sendai, its sister city.  Note, the similarities between the sculpture and other raincross emblems embedded in the concrete of City Hall.  

#City of Riverside, #Raincross, #City Hall, #Alderette Designs, #Inland Empire artist, #sculpture

Historical Displays on Victoria Avenue

There are three kiosks along Victoria Avenue providing some history of the avenue and the citrus industry in Riverside as well as information on the bike trail, the special gardens and the roses and palms along the route.  The first kiosk is in front of the Helen Hayes Yeager Memorial Garden (intersection of Victoria and Myrtle Ave.). The last is near the southern end of the avenue (intersection of Victoria and La Sierra Avenue). The other is in the middle stretch of the avenue.  The information is mostly the same at the three kiosks although there are one or two differences.  Photos of the kiosks and the various panels are shown below.  The project was coordinated by Frank Heyming.  Natalia Zanfardino was the graphics editor and Darlene DeMason edited the text.  

#Victoria Avenue #Riverside history #Washington Navel Orange #Yeager Memorial Garden #Yeager Memorial Bike Trail #Ragged Robin Rose #Roosevelt Palm 

Aaron Norris Downtown Riverside Mural

A large attractive mural recognizing the contributions of Aaron Norris, a prominent Riverside supporter of the arts who died at a young age, and which features key sights in downtown Riverside has been painted near the intersection of University and Lemon Streets (about 3841 Lemon St., Riverside, CA).  The mural was painted by local muralist Mano Mirande @_mano_man_. 

#Riverside murals #Inland Empire art #Fox theater #Cheech museum #City hall #Aaron Norris #Riverside Art Museum