Local Street Art “Catnap” by Michael Sommers of Oceanside
Colorful cats appear on Carlsbad wall
“Catnap theme “Change is the essence of life, you have to be willing to change what you are for what you can become”. A Tiger can change it strips!
“I think it’s wonderful for the Village,” said Kristianne Kurner, director of New Village Arts. “When you have art in unexpected places, it adds to your experience there.”
“Catnap” — about 18 feet tall and nearly as wide — is the most prominent of the murals, placed at a corner along the busy road that becomes Coast Highway when it crosses into Oceanside.
The work of Oceanside artist Michael Summers, the mural shows two large tigers beneath rain-like drips of vibrant color. One animal is sheltered by an umbrella, as the other ventures out into the unknown.
“It’s part of a series I’ve been doing,” Summers said Tuesday during a pause in his work. “I call it my ‘Right as Rain’ series. I’ve been working on these for about a year or two.”
He said the design for his mural was inspired by a quote from American theologian Reinhold Neibuhr, which is, “Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you may become.”
The tigers in the mural are not quite sure if they want to venture out into the world, Summers said.
“Everything you experience changes you a little if you let it,” he said. “It’s a little of that idea.”
Most of the painting will be done by the end of the week, he said, though he’ll probably continue to touch it up until May 10.
Summers said he’s using high pigment acrylic paint for the mural, which should resist any fading for at least a decade. Also, the work is on a north-facing wall, which is only in the direct sunlight briefly each day.
Summers’ project is the second of the four murals. The first was created by Jason Markow at 2690 State St. His design uses the text of block-like words pieced together to create images.
The third and fourth murals will be smaller — about 3 feet by 5 feet, Kurner said.
One of those with be a type of “trompe l’oeil,” or “trick of the eye” that Carlsbad artist Ron Juncal will paint on the side of Carlsbad Village Yoga and Fitness on Roosevelt Street. “It looks like you’re looking into the building … as if the wall were ripped open,” Kurner said.
The final mural will be by Phoenix artist Lauren Lee, who’s known for vibrant renderings of animal life and figures that interweave the natural and spiritual worlds.
The location for that work is still to be determined, Kurner said.
More than 16 artists submitted proposals for the murals, she said. The winners were selected by a committee of representatives from New Village Arts, the Charitable Foundation and downtown business people.
A grand unveiling for all the murals is planned for the New Village Arts gala in June.
“Catnap” — about 18 feet tall and nearly as wide — is the most prominent of the murals, placed at a corner along the busy road that becomes Coast Highway when it crosses into Oceanside.
The work of Oceanside artist Michael Summers, the mural shows two large tigers beneath rain-like drips of vibrant color. One animal is sheltered by an umbrella, as the other ventures out into the unknown.
“It’s part of a series I’ve been doing,” Summers said Tuesday during a pause in his work. “I call it my ‘Right as Rain’ series. I’ve been working on these for about a year or two.”
He said the design for his mural was inspired by a quote from American theologian Reinhold Neibuhr, which is, “Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you may become.”
The tigers in the mural are not quite sure if they want to venture out into the world, Summers said.
“Everything you experience changes you a little if you let it,” he said. “It’s a little of that idea.”
Most of the painting will be done by the end of the week, he said, though he’ll probably continue to touch it up until May 10.
Summers said he’s using high pigment acrylic paint for the mural, which should resist any fading for at least a decade. Also, the work is on a north-facing wall, which is only in the direct sunlight briefly each day.
Summers’ project is the second of the four murals. The first was created by Jason Markow at 2690 State St. His design uses the text of block-like words pieced together to create images.
The third and fourth murals will be smaller — about 3 feet by 5 feet, Kurner said.
One of those with be a type of “trompe l’oeil,” or “trick of the eye” that Carlsbad artist Ron Juncal will paint on the side of Carlsbad Village Yoga and Fitness on Roosevelt Street. “It looks like you’re looking into the building … as if the wall were ripped open,” Kurner said.
The final mural will be by Phoenix artist Lauren Lee, who’s known for vibrant renderings of animal life and figures that interweave the natural and spiritual worlds.
The location for that work is still to be determined, Kurner said.
More than 16 artists submitted proposals for the murals, she said. The winners were selected by a committee of representatives from New Village Arts, the Charitable Foundation and downtown business people.
A grand unveiling for all the murals is planned for the New Village Arts gala in June.