Vibrant dripping rainbows consume the side of the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma. A spineless cactus intertwined with a latex balloon snake stands sixty feet tall on the Roseland Silos. The portrait of a young Pomo man posing in traditional regalia painted in an alley on Santa Rosa Ave. These are just some of the murals on display online at the Sonoma State Art Gallery that give color and life to Sonoma County.

The Sonoma State Art Gallery is presenting the exhibition, “Spray It Like You Mean It: Contemporary Murals of Sonoma County” showcasing public art from around Sonoma County. The exhibit can be viewed online at artgallery.sonoma.edu until Feb. 28. 

The exhibit takes viewers on a virtual journey enabling them to see parts of Sonoma County they might not have known existed. These massive and beautiful murals are reflective of their communities giving viewers a taste of the cultures within them. 

In the past murals like these were labeled as “graffiti” and quickly painted over by the city, but today these public art works are celebrated. Murals have provided a way for communities to tell their stories, honor their diversity and bring awareness to often overlooked neighborhoods.

The idea for the exhibition was prompted by Carla Stone, the Exhibitions Coordinator at the university Art Gallery, who started noticing more and more murals popping up in her town and while traveling through the neighborhoods. “It occurred to me that a show about these and other murals would make an interesting show and it would be the perfect time to feature murals in our virtual gallery,” stated Stone.

Since moving to a remote environment, the staff at the university Art Gallery have been creative and innovative in navigating new ways to bring art to students. Having this different medium has given them the chance to think outside the box for exhibitions.

Some of the murals that were chosen for this exhibit stand 100 feet tall or reach up to 600 feet in length, “These are huge, on-site works that of course we’d never be able to bring into the Gallery, so we thought it was an opportune time to create an exhibition featuring them.” stated Jennifer Bethke, Interim Gallery Director at Sonoma State. 

The exhibit is curated by Carla Stone with collaboration from Spring Maxfield, a graduate of the art department at Sonoma State. Maxfield has been a longtime advocate of public art projects and has worked with many of the artists in the community. 

Maxfield has been involved in many art projects throughout the community as well as co-producing the Great Handcar Regatta festivals from 2008-2011 in Santa Rosa. She has a love of art and a passion for helping bring beautiful mural pieces to unexpected places, she says she can’t help but get involved in these types of projects, “I want to see my community looking great!” She says this exhibit is, “a great opportunity for people to see art outside that’s been overlooked.” 

This exhibit gives students a unique chance to interact with their local community. “Hopefully after viewing the exhibition online, students will be inspired to go outside to find these murals to view in person. Spring is just around the corner, this is a great time to venture outside and explore,” stated Stone

The murals are available to view online with each one being paired with information about its location, the artist, and how the project got started. A few come with videos of the making of the art using time lapses and drone footage, giving viewers an in-depth look at how these murals came to existence.