Club Photo: Write-up by Esther; Vistor to Lompoc in June, 2005

(Posted 06/03/05)

Lompoc - City of Murals

Because there was no room at an inn in Santa Barbara when we wanted to go to Ryan's graduation this June, Edward and I took a Motel 6 room in Lompoc. Never having been in Lompoc, we expected it to be a dingy city off the beaten path. What a surprise we were in for!

Lompoc, near the central California coast, is the cleanest city I've been in. It has wide streets, free of litter, abandoned grocery carts and absolutely no graffiti. There is a very active 'Mural Society' in Lompoc and everywhere around town we saw charming murals. The friendly past president of the Lompoc Valley Art Association told us a little about their murals and gave us a mural map. The map lists 27 murals on exhibit around town. Many are 'Mural-in-a-Day' projects in which a team of 10 or more artists work under a master artist and complete the mural in one day. Many murals are of historical nature, some honor veterans, others are abstracts. Art Alley has over 25 works by professional and amateur artists on display.

The local schools obviously have an excellent art program including participation with the murals. This may explain the lack of graffiti around town.

Lompoc is the flower growing capital. The temperature is so even here throughout the year that it is ideal for growing flowers. Bodger Seeds, Ltd. planted a floral flag of red, white and blue larkspur in a 740x400 foot field for the annual Flower Festival late June 26-30. Driving around the outskirts of town we saw field upon field of blossoming flowers.

When we were in town, the Lompoc Portuguese Pentecostal Association had a pageant commemorating Queen Isabella of Portugal, when during the famine, she promised to give her crown jewels to the church if the ship carrying food reached Portugal. If the ship made the voyage, a peasant girl was chosen to carry the jewels to the church and the poor were fed. By chance, Edward and I happened to be near the site of the event and enjoyed watching the proceedings. A parade went to the La Purisima Concepcion Catholic Church where the 'jewels' were presented to the priest at the front steps.

A few miles to the west of Lompoc is Vandenberg Air Force Base and a beautiful ocean beach.

Lompoc is definitely worth driving out of your way from 101 to visit. Until you can make the trip yourself, enjoy these pictures we were able to bring back via the digital camera.

Select 'View Slide Show' to see them in sequence, or click on the thumbnail to make them enlarge. Please sign the guest book.

Esther

These are Esther's own photos. ~ Lompoc Mural Society

Mural Society Building It was closed but we walked around back	These we found around behind the Mural Society building.

	Another mural behind the society building.
Early Education Artist - Shirley Wallace, Lompoc, CA. An 1884 class picture shows the small group of Lompoc students with their teacher, Ann Calver (shown in cameo).	Rudolph Mansion Artist - Vicki Andersen, Lompoc, CA Lompoc's first mayor, Harvey Rudolph, lived in a beautiful 3 story mansion.
Domingoe Blacksmith Shop Master Artist - Suzanne Cerney with other artists. One of the last authentic blacksmith shops in the Central Coast. Another Mural-In-A-Day project.

	Art Alley A few of the 25 works by professional and amateur artists.

Historical Building Notice the outdoor plumbing.	Art Alley
Art Alley




	Mission Abstract Artist - Lori Slater, Lompoc, CA This stylized mural depicts a portion of the entrance to the original La Purisima Mission. Note: This title and description is for the wrong mural here.

Flora & Fauna of the Lompoc Valley Master Artist - Art Mortimer with other artists. This mural depicts the local flowers an animals within Lompoc Valley. Another Mural-In-A-Day series.	Salute to Aerospace Artist - John McVicker A salute to the men and women of Vandenberg Air Force Base as they push back the frontiers of flight and space.


	Ethnic Diversity Artist - Richard Wyatt,Culver City, CA On Civic Center Plaza, these 12 large portraits represent the diversity of cultures from various ethnic groups who were prominent leaders in the community.
	The Point Conception Lighthouse Master Artists - Vicki Andersen & Linda Gooch, Lompoc,CA with various artists. Another Mural-In-A-Dayproject. Depicting various views of the lighthouse that sits on Point Conception.
	An Artists Cottage Artists - Vicki Andersen & Linda Gooch, Lompoc, CA The artists turned this cinder-block building from a non-descript building to a Victorian Cottage.
This building is now 'The Cypress Gallery,' home to the Lompoc Valley Art Association.	A row of garage doors. Each decorated with a different flower.
Between South G & H Streets in alley.	Flowers of the Valley Artist - Vicki Andersen, Lompoc, CA A series of doors each of which depicts a different flower grown in the local area.
Close-up A beautiful painting disguises this garage door.
	Main Street 1900-1930 Master Artist - Arthur Mortimer & other artists. Another Mural-In-A-Day project. This represents the sepia tones of turn-of-the century photographs.
Close-up	Great Floral Flag Master Artist - Art Mortimer, with other artists. THis depicts the giant American flag planted in flowers by iodger Seeds Inc in 1942 to salute the men and women fighting in WW11. Another Mural-In-A-Day project.
The Missionary Baptist Church Not a mural, but the oldest church in town. It looked so quaint I couldn't resist capturing the picture.	The Oldest School in Lompoc A one room schoolhouse 1876-1961.Now it's fenced off for future preservation.
The Beautiful Beach at Vandenberg AFB.	There is a Southern Pacific railroad stop ajacent to this great beach.
Preparing for the Parade	Lompoc High School Band
Parade	Parade Carrying the 'crown jewels' of Queen Isabella.
La Purisima Concepcion Catholic Church Purisima Concepcion Catholic Church Where the jewels are presented.
High School Band Performs	Mission Bell From La Purisima Mission
Plaque Commemorating the priests at the mission.	Flower Flag Between the fields where the flag is planted, there are 9+ miles of flower fields that go all the way to the ocean. The flowers are grown by seed companies. It's a beautiful place, close to Vandenberg AFB. Check out the dimensions of the flag. The 2002 Floral Flag is 740 feet long and 390 feet wide and maintains the proper Flag dimensions, as described in Executive Order #10834. This Flag is 6.65 acres and is the first Floral Flag to be planted with 5 pointed Stars, comprised of White Larkspur. Each Star is 24 feet in diameter; each Stripe is 30 feet wide. This Flag is estimated to contain more than 400,000 Larkspur plants, with 4-5 flower stems each, for a total of more than 2 million flowers. You can drive by this flag on V Street south of Ocean Ave.in Lompoc, CA...Aerial photo courtesy of Bill Morson Soldiers' Prayer