Written by Kristina Rogers
On a recent Sunday afternoon, while bike riding around Land Park, I stopped to see an artist painting on the side of Planet Gymnastics. Maren Conrad, a local talent whose murals can be seen around midtown and downtown, was in the middle of a new three-wall piece. She greeted me warmly and suggested we sit down with a cool drink and take a break. Maren is the kind of person who makes you feel right at home. Maybe that’s because our neighborhood has a special significance for Ms. Conrad… it’s where she grew up.
Maren attended Crocker Riverside Elementary and remembers getting those free Vic’s ice cream tickets for good grades. The same Vic’s where she’s painting a portion of her mural. I was curious and asked about the background story of this project. She started with the inspiration for the artwork.
Jackie and Jim Anderson are long-time friends of Maren. They’ve lived in Land Park for over thirty years. Sadly, Jackie passed away from stomach cancer this last March. Jackie was an incredible photographer, and California native plants were a frequent subject. Jim asked Maren to help create a retrospective of Jackie’s pictorial work for the memorial. Maren found Jackie’s photos to be stunningly beautiful and was honored to help.
Soon after, Maren was contacted separately by several shop owners along Riverside Blvd. Each one asked her about creating a mural for their property walls. There was a group meeting, and the idea of a three-wall piece was born. Inspired by Jackie’s photography, the vision is a field of California flowers “jumping” from one side of the street to the other. With funding secured by Land Park small businesses owners and the Jackie Anderson Memorial fund, the project was green-lighted.
At the time of writing this, I am already enamored with the work. It is a garden of California poppies and lupine in bright, bold colors, greeting everyone who passes the neighborhood’s small business corridor. Several creatures living among the blooms hold a special significance to those involved in the project. I asked Maren about that.
Sea Turtle: This sea turtle represents Miss Annette, a teacher at Planet Gymnastic who recently passed away. Miss Annette’s daughter asked if her mother ever came back, what animal would she be? Miss Annette said she’d come back as a sea turtle. Now, every child walking into gymnastics class will be greeted by this sweet animal.
Dragonfly: Memorializes the spirit of Jacklyn Anderson.
Hummingbird: This is a nod to a shop owner who lost a beloved father.
Phoenix: Represents Land Park’s local shop owners’ struggles and endurance during the shelter-in-place year.
The flowers have a special connection to our community too. Recently, Maren organized for neighborhood kids to come and help paint parts of the mural. This added touch will be another lovely memory for those who participated.
Maren and her artist team are very grateful for the daily support they’ve received. “This is such a generous, special neighborhood,” she said, “We’ve been treated so well from the moment we arrived.” Daily visits from folks bringing lunch, treats, and appreciation for their work helped boost the mood on hot days.
The mural will be sealed and should be around for decades to come. It is a hopeful statement about the resilience of our neighborhood and our spirits. As Maren said, “We are coming through a year of trauma, loss and isolation. This mural represents a new page for the community. And as a bonus, it’s a giant garden that doesn’t need watering!”
A ceremony to celebrate the new mural is scheduled for early September.
To learn more about the artist, go to: https://www.marenconrad.com/