"Center Circle of Inclusion" Mosaic at City Hall

On the floor of the Grier Pavilion of Riverside's City Hall (3900 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501) is an interesting and meaningful mosaic entitled Center Circle of Inclusion.  It was designed and installed by Dominic Panziera of the firm Arteclettica in 2008.  As described on the Arteclettica website, The design includes the City Logo, the Raincross, "surrounded by a unifying ring, 24 radials of diverse colors, designs, and lengths. Although each sector is different, each is equal in the group, and connected by a universal bond; these segments are further enclosed by the engraved statement": "WE ARE...DIVERSE.. PROUD…COMMITTED...INCLUSIVE.

Cesar Chavez Community Center Classroom Mural

The front wall of the classroom near the entrance of the Cesar Chavez Community Center (2060 University Ave, Riverside) is covered with murals depicting Cesar Chavez and themes involving the community and civil rights within Riverside and the nation.  

 

Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at the Riverside National Cemetery

The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument is located just behind the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater at the Riverside National Cemetery (22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA). As described on a website for a similar monument, "Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments honor the families of active military members who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Made of black granite, these double-sided monuments bear the inscription, Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed a Loved One for our Freedom on one side. On the opposite side of the monument are scenes etched on each of the four panels: Homeland, Family, Patriot and Sacrifice. Centering this tribute is a silhouette of a saluting service member, representing those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.'

"The Gold Star Family Memorial was created by Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel “Woody" Williams to remember those families who have made the ultimate sacrifice. To learn more about the memorial and Woody's legacy, visit the Woody Williams Foundation website."

The Homeland panel features images distinctive of the Riverside area including a raincross, a cluster of oranges and a spread of California golden poppies.  

 

Military Branch and Veterans Administration Seals on the Administration Building at Riverside National Cemetery

On the walls of south side of the Administration Building at Riverside National Cemetery (22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside) are located beautiful metallic seals from each branch of the U.S. military as well as the seal of the Veterans Administration.  

"Springtime" Giant Orange at the Orange Terrace Library

An attractive giant orange entitled Springtime is located at the entrance of the Orange Terrace Branch Library (20010 Orange Terrace Pkwy, Riverside). It was painted by Riverside artist Anna Vanover @vanoveranna for a fundraiser for the Riverside Library Foundation in 2015.  Additional information can be found in a related Press Enterprise article. 

"Descanso par el Cansad" meaning "Rest for the Weary" Mural

The wall to the east of Ahumada's Market (7614 Evans St, Riverside) has been painted with a deep blue mural showing a light blue man with a staff crossing the river with a child on his shoulder.  To the right are the Spanish words "Descanso par el Cansad" which means "Rest for the Weary".  As the muralist Geoff Gouveia @geoffgouveia explains, "I painted the legend of St. Christopher crossing the river. The child asks St. Christopher to be carried across the river and St. Christopher obliges. While carrying the child, he grows quite heavy and St. Christopher struggles to get him across. When St. Christopher asks the child why he became heavy, the child revealed he was Jesus carrying the weight of the world. It’s a reversal - the “strong” man carrying the child is actually the one being carried. Hence why we painted “Rest for the Weary” in Spanish (to better sympathize with the local population in the area of the mural.)..." Additional information can be found on Gouveia's Instagram post.  

Mosaics and Fused Glass Art in the Marcy Branch Library

Several works of art are located within the Marcy Branch of the Riverside Public Library (6927 Magnolia Ave, Riverside).  Two are interesting mosaics and the third is a wintery wall art piece made of fused glass.  The artist who made the mosaics was Cathy Maxwell @maxwell_mosaics. The first is entitled Once Upon a Midnight Dream is in the lobby area. The second is titled, Sun Flowers, and is located on a post by the children’s section. The fused glass piece is entitled Winter Night and was created by Riverside artist Judy Davies. You can find out more about her work on her Facebook page or in a 2015 Press Enterprise article. 

Winter Night by Judy Davies

"The Journey of Eliza's Orange Trees 1874" Entry in the Giant Orange Artventure

A giant orange painted to illustrate the journey of the parent navel orange trees on their way to Eliza Tibbets in Riverside is located in the entryway of the Marcy Branch of the Riverside Public Library (6927 Magnolia Ave, Riverside).  The orange is entitled, The Journey of Eliza's Orange Trees 1874 and was painted by Patricia Ortlieb and restored by Anna Vanover. It was sponsored by the Ortlieb and Brown families and was an entry into the Great Orange Artventure hosted by the Riverside Art Museum in 2006.

Orange Tree Mural in Marcy Branch Library Entryway

A mural with an orange tree on a hill painted from an unusual perspective is located in the entryway of the Marcy Branch of the Riverside Public Library (6927 Magnolia Ave, Riverside).  The mural was painted by Big Bear Valley artist Robin Morrow.  

Young Lady Reading Statue in the Arlington Branch Library

A statue of a young lady reading a book sits atop a bookshelf within the Arlington branch of the Riverside Public Library (9556 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA).  There is a plaque with the sculpture's name, Young Lady Reading, and indicating that it was donated by the Friends of the Riverside Public Library for the Grand Re-Opening on June 5, 2008. The sculptor is unidentified.  According to an image search on Google, other copies of the bronze sculpture for sale are entitled Kate Reading a Book or Dorothy Statue of Girl Reading.

"Brief History of Riverside" Paintings at the Arlington Library

A series of four paintings entitled, Brief History of Riverside is mounted behind the circulation desk in the Arlington Branch of the Riverside Public Library (9556 Magnolia Ave, Riverside).  The paintings were painted by Sam Huang in 1982 and depict prominent buildings, monuments and presumably historical figures within the city or related to its history.  

"Museum of Modern Oranges" Giant Orange Artverture

A giant orange entitled Museum of Modern Oranges sits next to the entrance of the Arlington Branch of the Riverside Public Library (9556 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA).  It is covered with clever orange-themed variations of famous modern art paintings.  The orange was painted by Nora Unrath and was part of the 2006 Great Orange Artventure sponsored by the Art Alliance of the Riverside Art Museum. Some additional details on the orange and its paintings can be found on Unrath's Facebook page. 

Emerson Elementary School Mural

Emerson Elementary School (4660 Ottawa Ave, Riverside) has a new mural showing a beautiful bald eagle, the school's mascot, as it is about to land or catch a prey.  The mural was painted by Murals for Schools by a team led by lead artist Tom Seibert @muralsforschools. There are a couple of similarly themed pictures in the office windows as well.