One of the six planes featured on the mural is the Stinson “that Ralph used to cut the ribbon at the airport opening” outside the then-Standard Flying School, now CP Aviation.The aircraft will be shown airborne against a blue sky with fluffy clouds, and “kind of coming towards you” is the lead aircraft, a Beechcraft Staggerwing.The modified racing airplane, the Dewey Bird represents the Dewey family, a Ryan’s “polished aluminum body will have a nice effect” and an Aeronca Champion - “everyone just calls them a Champ” - as well as a as “Bill Hackbarth’s DeHavilland DH 4 “which has such a history” will also be featured.Dowling said he “ran it by” those active with SZP to “make sure that the principals feel comfortable with it.”As well as the Murals committee: “I originally had the aircraft just against the sky but the committee thought it would be nice to have South Mountain to identify the area...so I added a little touch of it.”It’s “hard to say how long this will take to complete, they’re all different and you work along until you think you’re finished” which he expects to be another 30 days “at the most...”Starting with the background detailing Dowling soon realized the challenges of this creation: “This wall has a lot of mortar groves, concrete block that will not allow itself to having as much detail” as his other mural.Overall, Dowling noted, “I really enjoy all the murals” that delight visitors and residents alike with their depictions of Santa Paula history and culture.
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(Left) Wendell Dowling, along with help from (right) Gail Humbles are working on the latest mural. The mural will depict the history of the Santa Paula Airport. The mural is located at the Santa Paula Travel building, 506 E. Main Street. Photo by Debbie Johnson |
Santa Paula Aviation History Mural
June 15, 2007
SP Aviation History Mural taking off with artist Dowling at the controls
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesThe latest of the Murals of Santa Paula is now underway on East Main Street where a work depicting the history of the Santa Paula Airport will be sure to thrill aviation buffs.Joyce Carlson, founder of the Murals’ effort, said the new mural - located on the west side of the Santa Paula Travel building - is being created by artist Wendell Dowling of Santa Paula.It is the second mural for Dowling, who created the transportation mural on Santa Barbara Street“From the very beginning we thought Wendell would be the one,” to bring the airport to life artistically, although Carlson noted that mural guidelines dictated different artists chosen through submittals.“Wendell’s so closely associated with the airport and it takes somebody good with the technical details...and rules are to be broken sometimes.”“I’m excited about doing my second mural,” although “my body isn’t... I’m back to climbing scaffolds,” said Dowling. “This is the one I wanted to do: aviation.”Dowling said that the approximately 70 foot by 11 foot mural is “representative of the airport” through its aircraft. “...some are generalized while some are specific because of their history and connection to the airport.”Airport founder Ralph Dickenson, who joined with area ranchers to build the airstrip dedicated in 1930, is prominently featured and splits the two separate areas, times-past evoking sepia tones used in the smaller panel.“With such a history of the airport you can’t represent all who should be represented so just I just focused on Ralph...”
