"Island Creatures" at the Alameda West End Library

mural detail: blue heron

The West End Library of Alameda was designed by architect Carl Werner and built in 1936 as a Public Work Administration (PWA) project.  The recent restoration included funding for a public art commission.

In competition with over 100 artists, Debey Zito and Terry Schmitt,  the creative forces behind Debey Zito Fine Furniture and Design, were chosen to create artwork for a  4’ x 28’ wall above the circulation desk.  

Debey designed a frieze mural incorporating Terry’s carvings devoted to the wildlife of Alameda Island. With over 20 miles of shoreline, the citizens of Alameda are never far from the creatures they share their island with.

The completed mural at the Alameda West End Library

The mural is carved in black walnut and polychromed to compliment the stained oak original to the library.  The artwork is “framed” with an arch, tapered posts and waves. Leopard sharks and surf fish swim in the bay, crab and shorebirds on the sand, hills and water and least terns fly under the bridge. 

The bunny frieze was created using a combination of carving, cast plaster, and faux finishing

For the children’s section of the Library, Debey and Terry enlisted ornamental plasterer and fellow guild member Lorna Kollmeyer, to cast a 21 foot long plaster frieze of romping rabbits and  monarch butterflies, after their original carved wood model. The plaster work was then faux finished to match the wood carvings. Flanking this frieze, four be-speckled hares carved in wood, are relaxing and reading books.

mural detail: native grasses

The work was unveiled to the public on April 14th 2011

The Alameda West End Library is located at 788 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda, California.

photos in this post by Nathanael Bennett Photography

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