Thursday, October 23, 2025

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

Monday, October 20, 2025

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


Wednesday, October 15, 2025

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

Monday, October 13, 2025

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, 

Thursday, October 9, 2025

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


Monday, September 8, 2025

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 







Friday, September 5, 2025

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











Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Robert M. Howie Plaza Monument

There is a monument honoring Robert M. Howie for whom the plaza (4080 Lemon St., Riverside, CA) in downtown Riverside is named.  It briefly tells of his life and has a medallion-type of sculpture of him.  The monument indicates that it is "dedicated to the virtuous, vigorous and independent people who cultivate the earth in Riverside County and to Robert M. Howie who dedicated his life to protecting and promoting agriculture". The designer and artist of the monument are unknown.  





  

#Howie Plaza #Riverside County agriculture #Downtown Riverside