Lompoc has SO many murals! The California Central Coast city famous for space launches is also famous for public murals. Mural artist Anne Thompson explains how they are done, why they are done and how some are done in a single day! From Anne's mural commemorating the 50th anniversary of the launch for the Landsat satellite , to other artist's depictions of Lompoc history, culture and natural wonders.
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I'm so excited.
Turns out Lompoc is all about murals.
They have beautiful public art here,
and I am so happy to be with Anne Thompson,
who did this incredible mural.
We're in front of it.
Anne, thank you for making this incredible art.
You're very welcome.
I'm Pat Patterson, and I love California.
Now, what does this commemorate?
This commemorates the 50th anniversary of Landsat,
which is a satellite that has been taking images
of the Earth for 50 years.
And was launched nearby here at Vandenberg?
Yes.
Is that why this is here?
Yes.
NASA came to us and said that they wanted
to do something special because it was the 50th year,
and they liked the idea of doing a mural,
and Lompoc is a city of murals.
When you're painting one of these,
you mentioned it took about three months, I think.
Yes.
So just explain the process.
You're on a scissor lift.
I mean, how do you, tell me about it.
I don't get it.
This is impossible.
Well, you start with a blank wall,
but you also have to come up with an image, a rendering.
And in this case, this was open to anybody
who was interested in competing.
So we had about-
It was kind of a contest.
Yes.
So we had like nine artists, approximately,
and they weren't just local.
We had some from other states, and some amazing artists.
So I decided to give it a try,
and I thought, I'll never get this.
So I'm just gonna, I'll come up with,
I'll do this, and I'll do that,
and I'll come up with all kinds of ideas.
But they called me on April Fool's Day
to say that I had won.
And I said, who really got it?
Come on, don't mess with me.
And they said, you got it.
And I thought, oh, no.
So anyway-
Oh, now I have to paint this.
Now I have to figure out how I'm gonna do this.
And so I gridded it.
You made squares, and I just went one box at it
after another, and painted it, and sealed it two times.
Just like Michelangelo on the chapel ceiling.
Oh, yeah.
Slow but sure.
And who else is involved that you can give a shout out to?
Explore Lompoc.
Oh, thank you to them for everything
that they've been a part of.
Such a great organization.
We talked to Paul Patel, who's a part of the board.
Oh, yes, Paul, he's great.
And other than your own,
do you have a favorite other mural,
or is that making you pick a-
Well, I've had the opportunity to restore several.
I'm the curator now, which is why I'm covered with paint.
But one of my favorites is the Last of the Titans.
It's, again, another missiles shooting up.
And with that particular one, back when we did it,
it was done in one day.
And a lot of the murals will last approximately 20 years,
and then they start to need attention.
So I was able to restore that one during the pandemic.
So everybody was locked down,
but I could be outside in the fresh air,
and I was up on scaffolding to do that.
Good therapy.
Now, if somebody wanted to contribute to a mural,
what do they do?
We have a website, the Mural Society does.
So you can go there and do that.
That would be so appreciated.
Yeah, so a good way to support public art.
Lompoc has gone out and done all these incredible murals.
You gotta come see them here in Lompoc.
Ann Thompson, thank you so much.
You're welcome. Thank you.
