The ribbon cutting for the unveiling of “A History of Dixon” will be held Sept. 5. Photo courtesy of Dixon Historical Society and Museum

DIXON, CA (MPG) - Dixon native and artist Colleen Gnos has spent months to research, plan and paint the region's rich legacy in her latest 14' x 14' narrative mural, "A History of Dixon," commissioned by the Dixon Historical Society and Museum.

It's the most intricate mural Gnos has painted to date, with in-depth back stories, symbolism and cultural references that she investigated and collaborated on with Museum Board members.

Museum leaders Kim Schroeder-Evans and Diane Schroeder coordinated their original mural vision with Gnos. They shared hundreds of reference photos as the complex project evolved. They requested representations of the area's indigenous Wintun/Patwin tribe, Los Californios land grant families, the California Pacific Railroad expansion, the Dickson family and the naming of Dixon and the presence of the Pony Express and Los Braceros program in the region.

Gnos also included pictorial vignettes of first settlers, business owners, wildlife, historic medicinal plants, landmarks such as the local Milk Farm and Dixon United Methodist Church, and agricultural industries, such as sheep ranches, dairy farms, former beet fields, and tomato crops. Gnos grew up watching her father harvest tomatoes, and she has included a similar memory in the mural in tribute to her heritage and local farmers.

The artist shared, “I enjoyed diving into the history of the town where I grew up, and bringing Dixon's story to life! It was exciting to learn about the Wintun Nations that lived on the land where my family now farms. I was fortunate to work with an elder, Pam Gonzales who grew up in the Wintun culture. I feel privileged that she entrusted me with this important depiction of her tribal story.”

Colleen Gnos poses with her many sketches in preparation of the mural. Photo courtesy of Dixon Historical Society and Museum

This week, the San Luis Obispo, CA award-winning muralist will install eight sections to complete Dixon's latest public art. She will share her inspiration and process to create "A History of Dixon" at a public celebration of the mural's unveiling and ribbon-cutting, 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sep. 5 at the Dixon Historical Society and Museum, 125 West A Street, Dixon, CA, (707) 693-3044.

Board members will describe more of the mural's background. The Museum's new curator will also be introduced, along with some of the town's historic families.  https://www.dixonhistoricalsociety.org/

Schroeder-Evans is excited to include the public in the unveiling of their new art.

“This mural captures the various histories of the diverse cultural groups who contributed to both agriculture and business. I'm amazed at how Colleen squeezed so much into this mural and appreciate the time it took to do this. This will become a wonderful teaching tool for our school visits to the museum, and it will beautify downtown Dixon,” Schroeder-Evans said.

To document the mural's creation and progress, Gnos shared a series of time-elapsed videos and work-in-progress photos on social media of this large painting. Her posts show dozens of brainstorm sketches. She made larger, more intricate renderings to present for Museum Board approval, which can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/colleen.gnos.

Whenever possible, Gnos prefers to prepare and paint her murals in her studio for efficiency and quality control. Then she and husband Che Miller transport the art and scaffolding to the site and install finished painted panels onto custom-built aluminum frames created by metalsmith Rick Gordon. For "A History of Dixon" Gnos will touch up painting details, then apply two layers of clear surface protection to handle Dixon's year-round weather conditions, and to elude future graffiti damage.

Colleen Gnos’ mural will pay tribute to the rich history of Dixon. Photo courtesy of Dixon Historical Society and Museum

The Dixon Historical Society and Museum was eager for Gnos to paint their mural based on her other large works in the region, and due to her standing as an acclaimed artist. In September 2023, California Arts Council selected Gnos as one of Central California's established artists. They presented her with an esteemed "Individual Fellowship Award & Grant" for her decades of dedication to her art practice. San Luis Obispo New Times also awarded their "Best Visual Artist" Reader's Poll several years to Gnos.

Gnos has painted several murals in Solano County in recent years. Her 20-foot free-standing "Stewards of the Soil" off Interstate 80 honors Dixon farmers and California's agricultural communities. "Remembrance: Life's Seasons" is a 3.5' x 60' tribute mural at Dixon High School that honors the lives of three students and a teacher who died in 2019. Dixon's St. Peter's Catholic Church showcases Gnos' altar backdrops and extensive marbleized columns and wood grain detail. "Gazing into Infinity" in Woodland, CA shows the story of a hardworking man connected to his farm, reflecting the industrious lifestyle of families who work their own land.

Closer to her current Shell Beach, CA home, Gnos' well-regarded eight-panel mural on two Avila Beach lifeguard towers celebrates her family's personal legacy, including the beach town's local history. "Avila Beach Ocean Stewardship: Past & Present" is Central Coast Aquarium's commissioned mural. It portrays the adjacent ocean's biodiversity with two panoramic views: historical sea life images, and preservation concerns for today's marine life. There are several other private residences and small business murals that Gnos' neighborhoods enjoy, too.

The busy artist, surfer and mother of two grown sons is also a bassist in her husband Che Miller's band, The Mother Corn Shuckers. The public is invited to see Gnos' art in person during San Luis Obispo County Arts Council's annual "Open Studios Art Tour," Sunday, Oct. 12 through 13 and 19 through 20. Find more information at https://www.gnosart.com/events/2024/10/12/2024-open-studios-art-tour.

Gnos' love of storytelling, her skill to reflect the human form, and her fascination with history is clear in her artwork that she creates with reverence. Her art is a meaningful & magical mirror of the world we live in.

"I guess that's what motivates me to pick up my paintbrush every week, no matter the size of the work I'm creating. My mission is to make art that touches people, to connect and heal communities," she said.

Explore more of Gnos’ art at https://www.gnosart.com.