by David Scholz
A collective artistic effort is gracing significant wall space to help mark the newly renovated Concord Historical Museum in downtown Concord.
The 6 feet by 7 feet mural, entitled “Chupcan Village,” is the work of Concord Art Association members Renaye Johnson, Thea Jue, Janice Davis, and Karen Giorgianni. It will be officially unveiled Sunday, Oct. 5, as part of the re-grand opening celebration festivities planned at the museum at 1928 Clayton Road.
Inspiration for the mural was twofold. Previously, museum officials had provided images of the Chupcan tribe to the California Artists Association which the artists painted on one of the electrical utility boxes and the result was well received. Then, during the museum renovation, a blank space was identified in the Concord Museum suitable for a larger scale work.
“We thought a mural of the Indigenous people would help to finish off the area set aside for information about them,” said Vivian Boyd, Director of the Resource Center and the First Vice President of the Concord Historical Society.
With each artist bringing their own unique skill set to the piece, Davis cited the early challenge of determining what the large-scale composition would entail. So, sketches followed to suggest what elements might be included, such as inclusion of enclosures and baskets, but also the absence of faces to represent those First people being represented.
Reading about the lifestyle of the Chupcans through historical documents and learning how they were a peaceful people, “We tried to recreate (a scene) as best we could,” said Giorginanni, a former teacher.
She hoped that the mural would serve as an additional tool for what is being taught in schools about local Native American groups.
Johnson noted each artist had opinions, but it was fulfilling to be able to work together for a common objective. “Knowing their shared work is now hanging in the museum made the experience all the more fulfilling,” Jue added.
Work on the two-panel mural began in early August when the two canvases were initially positioned side by side on easels so all four artists could be working simultaneously on specific elements they were contributing to the overall project. Over the subsequent weeks, the mural was worked on as many as three days a week to ensure timely progress was being made.
The mural was installed on Saturday, Sept. 20, in time for the facility’s multi-faceted October re-grand opening festivities dubbed “Celebrating Concord’s Past, Present, and Future.”
The Oct. 5 event is from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and will feature a book reading of “C is for the Concord” by author Kori Barton, live jazz music performed under the direction of Dr. Matt Zebley, and a showing of the 1960 movie “The Wild Ride” directed by Harvey Berman (a teacher at Mt. Diablo High School and Diablo Vally College) that features a very young Jack Nicholson.
Along with seeing the museum, attendees will be able to explore all aspects of the Concord Historical Society, the Galindo Home, the Gardens, and the Resource Center.
For more information about the Concord Historical Society and its offerings, visit www.concordhistorical.org
