"Welcome to FRESNO" The wall for this future mural to be painted
downtown, located on 746 Broadway St next to Pep Boys, south of the Grizzly
Stadium, north of Ventura Ave. I have been painting signs for the last 25 years. My objective
is to paint this mural for the people of Fresno, as I understand there is
not one sign that welcomes anyone to our great city. I am painting this project Pro Bono, I
have about
10 other sign painters and artists who are also assisting pro bono (as you read
on sorry to say this didn't happen) it’s aprox size is 15’x 35’
Here is a list of the following businesses who have been contributing to
assist with the production of this project. Mr. Eddie and
Pearl Josephine, Uncle Harry’s Bagels, 1-Shot Paint Corp-Gary Indiana, Art
Trio Signs, Toledo’s Mexican Restaurant, Dunn and Edwards Paints, Ahern Rentals, Quality Screen & Glass Inc, New Life
Discovery Schools, Repo Rick's Boxing Gym, William B. Saleh Painting Co, A-1 Ray's Air
Conditioning, Univision-Channel 21, Radio K-Jewel 99.3, Arte Americas Museum,
Tuffy's Bar & Grill. Letterhead Sign Supply-Petaluma, CA. D&K
Enterprises Portable Toliets, Denco Sales Co, City Service Lighting.
This is only the
beginning of Fresno's future for sign graphics and murals designs...
November 8, 2004 I started to begin this project. I remembered Joe Johnson J.J. Signs and I had donated a sign to Repo Ric's Boxing Gym. I recently saw Repo Ric (Ricky Steve) while doing some photography for one of his boxers, Charles "Showboat" Davis, who just won the WBE Super Heavy Weight title. So I asked for a favor in return, he said let me see what I can do to prep your wall? He got me Elmer L. Jordan, himself and brought Showboat to help wire brush and pressure wash the wall. During the pressure washing I made a big mistake trying to start the washer after we had used it. I tried starting it and with the pressure in the machine, the pull cord yanked my arm back and felt like I pull a tendon or something. I just over looked it and continued washing. The next day all three arrived to coat out the masonry primer and sealer donated by Dunn and Edwards paint store here in Fresno. To give you an idea how worn out this wall was here is a close up of one of the letters
Here is
Elmer Jordan, who was a tremendous help in washing, prepping, and priming
the wall.
I couldn't help but get a kick out of Joe, he wasn't prepared for this customer. I just met him in the parking lot asking if I needed my windshields washed, I asked him if he was looking for work, he jumped up and said "YEAH!" I wasn't sure when Repo and his fellows were going to arrive, so I got Joe to give me a hand on setting up the size of the wall that was going to be primed and painted. I gave him a pole with a roller frame on it and said here you go. Along side of Joe is Repo Ric cell phone in hand setting up a fight match while painting at the same time. I think he's the future Don King of Fresno.
Here's the champ Charles "Showboat" Davis on a 22' ladder, he's not just a man who knows how to use fists in the ring, he was also a great help on this worn out wall filling the mortar with primer-sealer. I felt honored having him there to help.
Radio
Station K-Jewel 99.3 FM gave me some air time to help me announce I needed
more assistance for this project.
After I got the wall all primed up, now was time to start painting in the center part with the background color, this paint color was donated by Dunn and Edwards. Although I kind of felt I was in need of just a little more paint, I happen to bump into Mark Saleh of Wm. B. Saleh Co. Distinctive Painting, he offered me some exterior paint and his airless to use for the project! What a guy huh. I happen to mention this to my neighbor Clayton (Billy) Dahl about it and he says that's a BIG airless you could paint all of downtown with that, you really don't need one that big and showed me his airless, so we ended up using his airless. I filled in the outer perimeter by hand using rollers and also by Rudy (Rude Graphics) Contreras Jr. before I sprayed with the airless. Billy helped me out with the spraying both colors on the wall, after we did the background color I sprayed on the vignette to give it that parchmert paper look.
Hereeeeeeeee's
Billy... 
With all the prep and painting done, it was now time to get down and "burn the midnight oil" Allan Weil and Richard Rodriquez came to out to help me this cold evening, with a scissor lift donated by Ahern Rentals made life a whole lot easier. That night was interesting, I printed the wrong transparency from my drawings, the projector wasn't giving me a good focus, and the parking pole light wasn't helping. It needed to be covered, with a dinner coat Richard found in the alley we covered the light and taped it with masking tape. Still wasn't coming out clear, but since I designed it I knew more where some of my strokes should be, Allan understood my layout, even with the blurriness, I told him I'll straighten out whatever tomorrow, it was time to rock and roll! We had burned the midnight oil that night, wrapped up and all went home.
The layout is semi completed, we weren't able to see the corners or the grapes, so I had to do those by hand the next day. A couple of days later I set up the wall for painting on Saturday, I have a list of at least 11-12 of who I think are the top sign painters in Fresno, I asked some a week before, if they wanted to join in, everyone had a different reason why they might not be able to attend, others said they weren't interested-period. Others said yeah I'll be there. Maybe it was the weather or the holidays. I know we all have a life to live and who knows what the real reason were. I just didn't want anyone to feel like "why didn't you ask me?" Of the whole bunch...Jeff Tenalian arrives before 8 am to help out, now here's a guy I wrote about in Sign Builder Illustrated (May 2001) as the Sign Guru of Fresno. I tip my hat to this guy, he does the biggest signs in the state! Ever see the Lemoore Bingo Palace, World's Sports Cafe, Table Mountain Casino, that's just a few he has done! Lot of people don't know Jeff started out as a sign painter and pin striper. I remembered when I asked him if he wanted to join in, he said "YEAH, and I still have my fitches!" He has this beautiful brochure of his business Commercial Neon http://www.commneon.com/index.html and one of the photos shows his fitches. He's a true walldog!
My mom had just got there a few minutes before him with the coffee and assorted bagels donated by Uncle Harry's, a few minutes later mom's good friend Rosie shows up to help out and serve. Jeff asks me where's everyone else? I said, I don't think most are going to show up for one reason or another. Later Rudy Jr shows up, so I get him started on painting the corners in Silver. From the end of the paint mixing table a guy comes forward and asks about what's going on? His name was Mario Bonilla, he has a set up for doing air brush painting in the old Gottschalk building, he tells me he has never painted on bricks. I look at his port folio and I can see he can paint, so I inform him it's all pro bono, he doesn't care. he asks can he paint the grapes? He painted the Ruby Reds, and later started the Thompsons. Lunch time came around so I made a call to Sam at Todelos for some burritos, when I made my order he said "I thought you were going to have more of an order" I answered "so did I." But with Jeff, Rudy, and Mario, we had a good lunch, the burritos were dynamite!
Later that day, the TV cameras crews Channel 24, 26, and 30 start to arrive, Rudy Jr behind the camera captured this one in action.
Along side with me on the scissor lift is Rudy Contreras Jr. Jeff had to leave
around 4pm for some family matters. He was able to have some burritos with us
provided by Toledos Mexican Restaurant. I was hoping some of the contributors
would have arrived but only Ray Hernandez of A-1 Air Conditioning and Heating
showed up. Eddie and Pearl Josephine later arrived to see the progress of
their wall and to enjoy the catered BBQ provided by Tuffy's Bar and Grill in Clovis. I was
kind of disappointed by the fact I had all this food for 30 people...BBQed
Tri Tip, Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Salad, Chili beans. And none of the sign people
who said "yeah I want to help, but when it came down to it, for one reason
or another, excuses arose, ahh well I don't hold any bad feelings. Life must go on.
That evening while watching the news on TV. I knew I had to change the colors on the word Fresno, it just didn't click right, I also changed the outline color, below is the latest of what it looks like as of November 29, 2004
Sunday December 5, 2004, with an injured arm, painting becomes difficult, I was only able to paint so much, it doesn't look like I added more but to give you and idea I painted the rest of the Red frame in 5.5 hours, I'll tell you that wall is pretty old, regardless of the work the show must go on. Help is very limited, I got tired of asking. With my own business to take care of the week ends is my only chance to work on this project, now with one arm makes it even more rough. No time to complain, nobody likes to hear about your problems.
Monday 12-13-2K4. Saturday was a very Foggy morning I mean it was so foggy the pigeons were walking. Does anyone care? No man, only you and your brush. I did get a call, one of the city council member said they would come by to help out, but with the fog I think they thought no one paints in the fog. No one that is except for yours truly. I even had doubts about getting out there myself. But the only way this project is going to get done is to get out there and paint. So I went out there to the wall, (I call it the WALL) it was dry, so I knew I could paint, but the weather didn't help my arm, so I had to dress a little warmer than usual, thermos, sweats, hat.
Rudy Jr (Rude Graphix) came out later in the day and helped beef up the frame, he was only able to reach so far on a ladder. I was in my ladder truck and working on the letters. When I finish my area, I will paint the rest of the frame. He also added in the green fields within the grape section. I really appreciate this guy he came to help out, believe it or not every hand out there is a load off me, but that's if they know what they know how to paint, I could probably get some people to help, but if I have to train them, then that makes it a lot more difficult. So until later here's a recent photo from this week end. The word 'Welcome to' got beveled. I was out there Sunday, as you can see the letters in Fresno are starting to take shape, that's called the bevel effect, if you look at the 'N and O' you will see I haven't got to them yet. I will get some closer up shots when the sun comes out.
There is still a ways to go, but I'm not sure how much time I can spend this week end, maybe Sunday I can get back to it.
Well here we are December 26 a day after Christmas, Mike Meyer and his wife Ayleen arrive from Mazeppa, Minnesota He's a very well internationally known sign painter who just got back from traveling around the world. He heard I had damaged my shoulder, told me he had a airline ticket he had to use up before the year and if I wanted some help, I said sure come on down, so I picked them up at the LAX airport. They spent Christmas at my home, here is Mike painting on the grapes and Ayleen working on the skyline
I get a
special guest, an artist name Ernesto Palomino, he's having a big art show right
now at Arte Americas, Ernesto is also very well known in the art world. From his
huge paintings, sculptures, and his murals he has painted in the past. So today
turned out pretty good! It's nice to have help from those who are there not for
the money but for the passion of painting
Channel 26 came by to capture the progress of the mural, you can see they were
interviewing me, but when the news came on, they gave the interview of Mike
explaining the "Beautifying America One City at a Time" It was great,
because when they were getting ready to show the clip, the TV station said
"People from around the country have to come down with paint brushes in
hand to help out the man who started the project...FranCisco Vargas" I
loved it! Some friends asked how come they didn't show you on the interview?
That
didn't bother me, I already had been shown three times on different TV stations
so it was good to see someone else explain about the mural. Here's a close up of
the letter O 
most would think it's finished but there are still a few things to add, but we
are getting close to completion, now I hear it's going to rain, so until later
have a great Holiday!
Jan 02, 2005 update, Some of these pictures are from when Mike was here. Mike and Ayleen went back to Minnesota, but even with the rain we knocked out quite a bit. Channel 30 and 47 came out to meet Mike and I painting, then it started to rain. Like true wall dogs we continued to paint. As you can see they were filming the die hards "painting in the rain" We got soaked that day, but we loved it! Below you can see it's getting close to completion.
I get a special guest...Sponge Bob, stopped by and wanted to take a picture with me, I said, no problema.
Time has been flowing, now here we are January 15, 2005. Mom came by to bring me a bite to eat. I told her you know mom, I want a picture of you here, so I finally got a shot of her at the Wall. Long time ago she used to pick grapes in the fields like many of us have. Looks like times haven't changed, she still is trying to pick the grapes. This day a few visitors and Rudy Contreras Sr came by to lend a hand. He asked me what he could do to help out if I needed it. I thought about it and remembered I needed to reposition the silver borders since I had made the red frame wider, the two bottom ones were the only two that I redid. He scuffed em and repainted the red.
While I was on the top section painting the rest of the frame, I saw this old car. I knew I had to find the owner to get a shot with it by the wall. The owner is Beto Alvarez, from the Fresno Bombs Car Club, it's a 1939 Oldsmobile called the 'Misty Blue' dropped down to the ground so low you couldn't slide a pack of Camel cigarettes under it.
Sunday. I get a call last night, an old friend Marcus Gomez, from San Jose. I have known him since around 1968. He was close to Madera maybe 20 miles away visiting some family. We chat for a while that evening, he asked what are you doing tomorrow? I tell him about 'the Wall' he wants to check it out. "Come on down!" I get happy when people, especially an old friend you haven't seen for years. It was kind of cold that day, and he was only going to be down for a short period, I cut the day a little short. While we went back into time when we were youngsters He stood by and updated me of old friends and stories of San Jose, it's a trip to find out the latest from a 150 miles away.
Here is the latest update on the wall, hopefully the weather will be kind with me on the week ends for that is the only time I have to work on it now. If you are reading this and want to be part of the wall as a contributor I am still accepting donations. I have a list of the people who have lend a hand, in one way or another helped me pull this monumental project to where it is now. All those who have contributed, their names will be painted on the wall and go down in Fresno history along with full "Braggers Rights" I can be reached at 559-252-0935 for a mailing address go to my home page www.franciscovargas.com
This was last weekend 1-23-2005, a good sign painter friend J. J. (Joe Johnson) stopped by to see how I was coming along with the mural, we talked for a bit and finally he asks if there was any help I needed...SURE I said, here you can help me paint the edges for a shadow of the frame. We used the rag painted method on the frame to make it look like its curves. I felt good when he said "man you have some hours into this project, I never realized how much work is in these bricks" yeah they are pretty worth out, I replied. I know lot of people don't realize how much even a couple of hours helps me out, J. J. also has his own business as J J Signs. So out of the top ten who I had asked he was one of them. I was glad he helped out. I truly appreciate it when folks come out and say hi, or if there is something they can do to lend a hand.
That same day I see this old Mercury, going to Pep Boys. I saw the owner...I had to ask if I could get a photo of his car in front of my mural. He was glad to pose his ride in front of it. His name is Robert Diaz it's a 1949 Mercury. The last time I took a picture of an old ride, I said dang I should of gotten in the picture, so with J J behind the camera I got in the shot. After seeing how the mural looks for a backdrop, I think there will be many more shots like this in the future.
Well it's been awhile since my last update, weather has played a major role in completing this baby. At times I have to put the wall on the back burner due to survival. This day I think it was February 6, Melody Berlinski came by to give me a hand, she's an ole friend and assistant who has helped me on many other projects, from Billboards up to 65 feet up to ground level signs, she's a tough cookie. She just got back in town and was wondering how I was and what was I up to. So I got her out here to touch up and fine tune certain areas. She was awesome!
Today is February 13, when I get out to the wall, I realize I left my brushes in my shop, I did a little touch up with what I had, but it only went so far. I had to go back and get my brushes. It's at the final end now. I signed it with my website address and put the copyright symbol. I will be clear coating it probably next Sunday if it's a clear warm day. I will be using 1-Shot's Graffiti Clear a two part system. Right now if you look at the wall you will see some areas that shine and other spots that don't, that's because part of it is latex and part enamel paint. With the clear, it will all shine. A few days or so after it gets cleared I will sign everyone's name who was part of this project. I have to say it's been quite a journey tackling this baby. I really enjoyed it, but at times I found myself saying no more Pro Bono's. It's become a major project, but I think what kept me going is when people would come up while I was painting and say "that looks great!" or "You're doing a good job, Fresno is way over due for art work downtown" one time some young girls passes by and as they were walking one shouts out "that's *#@^ed BAD!" I was in the ladder truck painting the top section I smiled and said to her...'thank you' Another time a lady and her husband came by to see it and wanted a picture with me, his wife said I love it. I know this is just the beginning of what this mural will be like. until the next update, Have a Happy Valentine's Day...
Today is the 25 of February, it's trip when you think of the possibilities that this mural can create. I made a stamp out of it. In the beginning I thought it would be neat to paint it like one, but somehow I thought just in case no one does come by to help I will have a massive project on my hands, and my gut feeling were right. Yes I had help by the ones you see here on this page, but it was in brief times, not a continual way. No I'm not complaining, I appreciate all the assistance I got from this project. Anyway here's what I think a stamp would look like, yes I did not print the right postage amount correctly for a reason...it's not a real stamp, I don't want the feds jumping on me
Today March 1, 2005 I get a call from the City Council. Assistant Marlin Ezell to Cynthia Sterling.
Council member Cynthia A. Sterling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marlin Ezell, Wednesday, March 2, 2005
559-240-2632
Council
member Cynthia Sterling to help local artist add finishing touches to downtown
mural
Council
Member will aid Artist FranCisco Vargas by helping
to
paint a jet and speed train on mural
WHAT:
Council member Cynthia Sterling, District 3, will assist local artist
and sign painter FranCisco Vargas, in adding the finishing touches to his
“Welcome to Fresno” mural in downtown Fresno.
She will help paint a 747 Jumbo Jet over the skyline of downtown in the
mural in addition to a speed train within the sign.
Vargas
started the mural project on November 8, 2004.
He has been painting the mural pro bono as a gift to the city.
Throughout the project he received generous support from the community,
through donations (supplies, money, etc.) from local businesses and volunteer
time from individuals, renowned artists and sign painters.
You are
invited to attend, accommodations will be made to interview Mr. Vargas and
Council member Sterling.
WHEN:
Friday, March 4, 2005 •
10 a.m.
WHERE:
746 Broadway St., Fresno, CA 93721
• Next to Pep
Boys, south of Grizzly Stadium, north of Ventura Ave.
WHO:
• FranCisco
Vargas, Local Artist and Sign Painter
Vargas
feels that there is not a mural design/sign graphic that welcomes people to the
city. He’s painting the mural for the community and believes the mural will be
the catalyst for future sign graphics and mural designs.
VISUALS:
• FranCisco Vargas painting the contributors names on
the wall to the mural.
•
Councilmember Sterling assisting in painting a jet
over the skyline of the Fresno in the mural and a speed train within the sign.
NOTES:
Vargas has been painting signs for 25 years.
Visit www.franciscovargas.com
to find out more information about Vargas’ work. For more information contact
Marlin Ezell, 240-2632 or e-mail marlin.ezell@ci.fresno.ca.us.
Friday- March 4th 2005
What a day this turned out to be... Melody Berlinski and I arrived a little early that morning so we could block any cars from parking in front of the mural. A little to late a black bug was already parked there, not a problem, the show must go on. Cynthia arrives shortly after us. We chat for a bit and I get my brushes ready for her to get started painting. I draw a few things on the wall for her to practice, she does very well. I know she can handle the train and jet. We get her set up in the ladder truck basket. Melody operating the controls from the back of the truck. Cynthia is in position and starts to paint. It's not long and the media has arrived! I felt like the Eric Burton song, one section he sings "I felt like I was in a Hollywood movie" The Fresno Bee and Vida del Valle also are there. Click, click, click I could hear the cameras going off. First for the interview was Channel 26, then 30, Channel 21 got the last interview. It was also my toughest interview ever. I can speak Spanish, but not as good as I should. So when the news came out there I was stumbling over a few words that I didn't know how to say, ah well at least I tried. Here's a few pictures from that exciting morning...
The Fresno Bee March 4 clipping reads: Muralist FranCisco Vargas, left, with help from Fresno City Council Member Cynthia Sterling, works on a 15' by 35' mural along Broadway that began Nov. 8. The mural will welcome visitors to fresno. Varga said he had a difficult time finding a wall to begin the mural. He said Sterling arrived friday and after and hour of art instruction helped add the silhouetted shape of a 747 passenger jet and a bullet train within the letter "O" of Fresno as hopeful symbols of the city's future. Vargas, who hopes to complete the mural by Sunday depending on the weather, says he plans to continue painting murals this spring if he can find owners of buildings willing to lend him their walls.
After all the media
left Eddie Josephine arrives to check out his building, by the way Eddie is
taller than he looks in the photo, I was standing on a bumper curb. I sincerely
thank him for allowing me his wall to welcome people to Fresno. You can't
believe how hard it was to get one...I got shot down so many times, I felt like
an airplane pilot in Baghdad. I think now after they see what can be done to an
old building by adding paint and color how it can change the atmosphere of any
downtown. Like the Letterheads saying goes..."Beautifying America one city
at a time!"
Just when you think things are all done with the mural, I get a call from Marlin Ezell, from Council member Cynthia Sterling's office. Informing me of a proclamation I will be receiving on March 29, 2005. Talk about feeling honored! I said WOW! Ok I can deal with that. Here it is and a shot my daughter Serena captured at City Hall that morning
Well folks I say that's about it for now, until the next mural happy painting. Cisco
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