Tina Dilly, Mural Advisor
Charles White, Historian
Jeanette Pauer, Project Manager
Lyn Bennet, Mural Artist
Meet The Team
In May of 2024 Tehachapi Valley Arts Association created a team to protect, create and preserve the historic murals of Tehachapi.
The team leaders are Tina Dilly, Charles White, Jeanette Pauer, and Lyn Bennett.
Tina Dilly is our Mural Advisor. She is an experienced artist and muralist in Tehachapi who is overseeing the utility box murals.. Charles White is the Historian and was the leading force in bringing the murals to Tehachapi. His knowledge of art and local history has made him a natural leader. Jeanette Pauer is the project manager and an artist. She is a councilmen for the City of Tehachapi and an experienced community organizer. Lyn Bennet is a local artist and muralist whose experienced in the restoration of murals. She is the leading artist behind the repairs and reproductions.
Tehachapi Murals
Historic Mural Restoration
Tehachapi Murals is working towards preserving the beauty and significance of Tehachapi’s historic murals. This is a process that requires careful attention to detail and a deep respect for the artwork's original intent. The restoration process involves a delicate balance of cleaning, repairing, and repainting to bring the mural back to its former glory. Skilled artists work tirelessly ion these treasured pieces of history and the stories they tell. By investing in the restoration of historic murals, we not only preserve our cultural heritage but also enrich our communities with beauty, history, and inspiration.
Reproduction Of This Mural Has Begun!
Water and drastic temperature changes can swiftly harm murals. The images displayed were captured within a three-month timeframe during the spring of 2024. Tehachapi Murals was established to protect and maintain the murals due to the significant risk of loss.
Thank You
BSE Rents for your sponsorship
Repairs starting October 2024
People of the Mountains: The Nuwa Tribe
Painted by Colleen Mitchel- Veyna 2004
In this village scene from before contact with Europeans, women weave baskets and grind foodstuffs in bedrock mortars. Children play games, as the men make tools and weave rabbit-pelts blankets. The borader shows more recent members and elders of the tribe, and baskets for which the local Indians were known. The background includes local pictoglyphs, a natural lake and the natural vegetation still visible in the area, such as cattails and rushes. The domed huts are called kahni, which means “house” in the Ksawaisu or Nuwa language.
USPS Air Mail
Painted by Mark Pestana 2007
Mark Pestana, noted test pilot and Tehachapi resident, and completed in 2007. It is located on the front of the Hitching Post Theater and commemorates the building as the site of the original Tehachapi post office, constructed after the 1952 earthquake. An original architectural feature of the wall is the inset relief of an eagle, a sculptural element that is incorporated into the envelope.
Lost 2019
Cement Plant at Monolith
Painted by Art Mortimer2008
This mural was designed and painted to display the importance of the cement plant and the township of Monolith to the hisory of Tehachapi. It was created based on vintage photosgraphs by Art Mortimer and celebrated the 100th anniversary of the plant, where production began in 1808 by the city of Los Angeles for cement that was used in building the Los Angeles Aqueduct.
BeeKay Mural
Painted by Colleen Mitchell Veyna 2011
The latest of Tehachapi’s murals, it was completed i 2011 and is on the side of the BeeKay Theatre adjacent t the newly developed Centennial Plaza. The mural was more than eight years in the planning and celebrates history of the theater originally built by Frank Baumgart and Lou Kanstein, the name coming from their initials. The artist was Colleen Mitchell Veyna. The people waiting in line to buy tickets are all locals whose families chose to honor them by including them in the mural. Those in line come from different eras but, for the sake of uniformity, are all depicted in the 1940's style clothing
T-Hatcha-P Brand
Art Mortimer and Tehachapi Artists 2005
The T-Hatcha-P Brand Logo originally designed by Art Mortimer, painted by Tehachapi Artis in 2005. The T-Hatcha-P logo was taken from an early fruit crate label. The steam powered combine shown is followed by a horse-drawn water wagon with Tehachapi Peak in the background. Jake Jacobsen, a former mayor and civic leader, along with his brother Rolf, built this seed-packing shed. The funnel still seen on the roof of the building, directed seeds into a hopper which you can see inside the building. In the pas, Tehachapi has seen the producion of seeds for many divine crops.
Coming
soom
Local aviation artist Mark Pestana is preparing to craft a patriotic mural outside the VFW. Stay tuned for further updates!
Visit his website to discover more about Mark.
https://pestanafineart.wordpress.com
Support the Preservation and Creation of Tehachapi Murals
We will soon launch an online donation option. In the meantime, feel free to stop by Gallery and Gifts to make a donation in person.