Civic Engagement Project: Idyllwild Public Art

Collin Cruz

Art 3170

Professor Aziz

Art Found in Idyllwild Town, Riverside County


PHASE 1: THE SITE

The place that I have picked for my project is Idyllwild, which is located near Lake Hemet. My parents own a house in Idyllwild, so I visit the area very often. The area is essentially a second home to me. Idyllwild is a small town located in the mountains, yet it is well known for its artistic culture. Idyllwild is a peaceful town that is connected to nature. There are many visitors that come to the area each year to either relax in the town, hike the surrounding mountains, or to explore the different arts that are present in Idyllwild. Idyllwild is most known for its arts focus on the community, which began around 2013 with various projects that focused upon the inclusion of public art within the town. Idyllwild also has many unique art pieces that depict the culture of the town perfectly.

 

PHASE 2: Field Work


    This image shows an arch adorned with flowers and an “Open Daily” sign in front of a small shop. This was created by the business owners themselves, this decorative art piece was likely created with the intention of attracting customers to the shop. The use of metal, real flowers, and paint shows the handmade nature of this creation. The theme of the shop decorations tell a story of comfort, creativity, and tourism, all of which are common aspects of Idyllwild. Though there is not a specific artist or date for this piece of decorative art, it shows the creativity that exists in Idyllwild in general. Beyond the sculptures and art galleries throughout the area, this decoration helps in showing the culture of the town.



    The deer sculptures are part of a project called the Idyllwild Deer Sightings project, which started in 2013 by the Art Alliance of Idyllwild . The initial project was started to include around 22 life-sized deer sculptures, each of which were painted by local artists and sponsored by local businesses . Each of these deer sculptures have unique designs that represent different themes like nature, music, and the culture of Idyllwild. Each of these sculptures have become a very popular attraction for the town. In 2018, the Art Alliance of Idyllwild expanded their initial project to create additional deer sculptures and sculptures representing other animals, like coyotes. These sculptures are placed throughout the town to allow for the tourists that visit the area to interact with the sculpture. These sculptures help to bring the community together and inspire tourism to the area.


    The Rustic Theatre sign is another of the important piece of artwork in Idyllwild, built in 1952 by Nina and Glenn Froehlich.  It is used to guild people to the theater that has remained the entertainment center for the town for many years and is still showing movies in Idyllwild today. Its design is consistent with the rustic and natural design of the town. Beyond being a place to view movies, it has become a symbol of the Rustic town. This sign bring all of the theaters culture into its design. The fast that it still stands today indicates its importance to Idyllwild for many more years. The Rustic Theatre sign is a symbol of both the history and the present day of Idyllwild.



Idyllwild town monument "Harmony" shows a variety of animals that are important to the natural environment of the area, such as a bear, an eagle, and a dog. This sculpture began to appear in the area around 2013, when the town began to focus upon various art projects within Idyllwild. The artist that created this statue is Dore Capitani. The use of wood within this sculpture helps to indicate the forest within which the town of Idyllwild exists. This sculpture appears to be dedicated to the symbols of strength, the natural world, and the relationship between the human species and the animal kingdom in general. The sculpture is also dedicated to the talents of the artists that created these sculptures out of natural materials, representing the town in which they live.

PHASE 3: Critical Analysis

    When analyzing all of the artwork that exists in Idyllwild, you can see the focus that was put into creating artwork that included elements of nature, animals, and the peaceful lifestyle that exists within the town. Many of the major artworks, like the deer sculptures, were started around 2013. The purpose of the art was to represent the natural elements and wildlife that exist within Idyllwild and the life that exists outside of the town. Also, most of the art within Idyllwild was created both by local artists and local businesses within the town, which only further shows that the art is representative of the same town and its peaceful, artistic lifestyle.

    However, the art does not provide for the representation of the different aspects of the town. For example, the majority of the themes represented within the artwork are positive themes, like those related to nature and tourism within the area. Yet, the theme of diversity within the town is not represented within the art. Also, the art avoids serious themes related to the town and its features. Instead, the art only includes the positive and creative representations of the natural habitat of Idyllwild. The art only represents the peaceful and artistic nature of the population of Idyllwild, rather than the diversity and wealth of different populations and histories that live within the town.

PHASE 4: Proposal

    There are many elements of the art in Idyllwild that I enjoy about the location. For example, the art showcases not just the nature of the area, but also the artists that live in the region, as well. The deer project is just one of the many works of art that have been created by the artists that live in Idyllwild, yet whose creations represent the interests of the people that live in Idyllwild. The art for Idyllwild creates a special atmosphere for those that visit the area. However, it can be improved if additional art was created that depicted the people and the history of Idyllwild. 

    Idyllwild is home to many artists, which makes it easy to find artists that are interested in creating additional art for the town. The art that is currently present in Idyllwild can be improved through the creation of additional art projects. Another idea to improve Idyllwild art is to include art that represents the creation of the area, the area’s artists will have the opportunity to exhibit their art, and to continue to create an atmosphere within the town that is of importance to both the people and the visitors of Idyllwild. I think that Idyllwild should continue to use their art elements to create the environment in which they do, but to also find ways to create additional art for the area that highlight the people, history, and culture of that area altogether.




























 

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