Leadership Manhattan Beach to Launch Art Center Mural Project
Jan 22, 2022 09:45AM ● By Jeanne Fratello
Two choices for the mural at the Manhattan Beach Art Center. Community members will have a chance vote on their favorite.
Rita Crabtree-Kampe, a member of the Leadership MB Class of 2022, told the Manhattan Beach City Council that the wall had been previously identified by the Cultural Arts Commission as a good site for a mural. The mural would be helpful in drawing attention and awareness to the Art Center, she said.
"Even people who have lived in Manhattan Beach for their entire lives are often surprised that we even have an arts center," she said. "A mural would be a great landmark public piece of artwork, and a great source of pride for the community."
Co-presenter Betsy Rubino added that Leadership MB had hoped to create a unifying moment. "We want to create a community event that brings people together," she said. "We’re thinking 100 people, possibly more. We would have a community painting party, and then a ribbon cutting, honoring those who created it and our sponsors."
The two proposed designs are from local artists Nichole Blackburn-Manthe of Celadon Studios and Big Sky Countries; and Josh Barnes of Studio Love and Loyalty.
Mural Timeline
The tentative schedule for the project is as follows:
January 20-February 14: Neighborhood canvassing; sending postcards and a survey (to be posted online shortly) about the artwork. Tentatively hosting a neighborhood “Meet the Artist” event;
February 7: Presentation to Cultural Arts Commission;
March 1: Reporting results of the survey and requesting final City Council approval;
March 15-April 15: Outreach to community participants, including preteens, teens, and adults;
April 30: Mural creation date;
May TBA: Ribbon cutting; community and sponsor recognition.
Leadership Manhattan Beach would pay for the cost of the mural through its fundraising. Maintenance of the mural would be assumed by the city of Manhattan Beach through its Public Art Trust Fund.
Leadership Manhattan Beach Community Projects
Leadership Manhattan Beach is a comprehensive 9-month leadership program to educate and develop future community leaders. The program, which runs from September through May of each year, culminates in a final project to benefit the community.
Previous Leadership Manhattan Beach projects have included refurbishing the Manhattan Beach Santa Float, installing bicycle fix-it stations, and equipping Manhattan Beach Police Department vehicles and strategic businesses throughout the community with Automated External Defibrillators.
