Gillis Hall’s New Mural: California Remix
Almost a century ago, artist Maynard Dixon took a paintbrush to the walls of the State Library’s Gillis Hall. Since then, California has grown and changed, and California State Librarian Greg Lucas worked in collaboration with the California Arts Council, or CAC, to find an artist who could fill Gillis Hall with depictions of the diversity, fullness and life of modern California.
Within the 29 panels of canvas that create Stearns’ masterpiece you can find multiple dimensions of themes: California landscapes, specific regional biomes, history, diversity, styles, music, etc. It’s a mixture of artistry and style, a true mixtape handcrafted by Stearns and dedicated to the Great State of California. “This piece needs to be next to the Maynard Dixon piece for it to resonate in its intention,” declared Stearns. It was designed specifically to accompany not only the Dixon mural but the unique vaulted ceilings, wide windows, and internal columns of Gillis Hall and the California State Library.
Brittneydawn Cook, California State Library Foundation Bulletin #135
The Opening Event
In December 2022, the California State Library hosted an event to celebrate the mural’s installation. Below is a short recap of the event, including the speech given by Stearns about his work.
Behind the Scenes
Artist Forest Stearns recorded several behind-the-scenes videos on his Instagram profile to show the process of moving, photographing, and hanging the new mural.
Artist at Work
Stearns also recorded short time-lapse videos of himself painting certain parts of the mural. These videos help to emphasize how much detail went into this expansive piece.
Read All About It
The California State Library Foundation, which supports the California State Library, published an in-depth piece about the new mural in its 135th Bulletin. The piece includes fold-outs of full-page photos of the mural, allowing readers to see the detailed paintings up close. Print copies of the Bulletin can be ordered.