Public Murals

“World’s Safest Beach” Mural
The “World’s Safest Beach” mural is a stunning gift to the community by world- renowned artist and native Carpinterian John Wullbrandt. The mural celebrates not only Carpinteria’s classic beach town ambience but also the community’s successful preservation of our precious coastal habitats such as the Harbor Seal Sanctuary and Carpinteria Salt Marsh.
Centered in the mural is a Carpinteria Beach scene from yesteryear, inspired by a nostalgic postcard of the period and bearing the classic moniker “World’s Safest Beach.” This is surrounded by depictions of shore birds, pelicans, harbor seals, dolphins and egrets, all part of the extraordinary and diverse wildlife that enhances Carpinteria’s coastline.

Located (appropriately) on Wullbrandt Way, the 16-foot tall 25-foot wide mural is designed to appeal to strolling pedestrians as they make their way along Linden Avenue. Dedicated April 6, 2012, this delightful work of art has become a beloved community icon as well as a popular “photo op” stop for locals and visitors alike.
Carpinteria Beautiful is proud to have helped make this mural possible and salutes artist Wullbrandt for his great talent, generosity and love of his community. For more information on this multi-talented artist, go to www.Wullbrandt.com.

“La Viña Grande” Mural

When local architect, Andy Neumann, drew up the revitalization plan for the downtown corridor, it included space for tile murals in Linden Plaza. Thanks to generous donors and proceeds from the annual Home & Garden Tour, Carpinteria Beautiful completed the picture – actually, two pictures when you include the tile surrounding the drinking fountain. The mural and tile surround were created by RTK Studios in Ojai.
“La Viña Grande” depicts the famous Carpinteria Grapevine. Planted in 1842, the
vine’s enormous arbor grew to over half an acre and was used for local gatherings and public meetings. In 1895, the vine produced an astounding 10 tons of grapes.

“La Carpinteria” Mural

Dedicated February 14, 2005, our second tile mural, “La Carpinteria”, celebrates our Chumash heritage and depicts the building of native tomols using asphaltum from local beaches as a sealant. The mural was created by RTK Studios in Ojai.

Inscription: In 1769 a Spanish expedition led by Gaspar de Portolá discovered Chumash Indians building tomols, or plank canoes on the beach below their village. The Indians were caulking their tomols with asphaltum that came from natural oil seeps in the sand. The explorers were so impressed with these carpenter Indians that they named the village “La Carpinteria” — “The Carpenter Shop,” which later became Carpinteria, as it is known today.

“Rincon from the Carpinteria Bluffs”

Since 2007, a striking landscape mural, entitled “Rincon from the Carpinteria Bluffs,” has adorned the exterior wall of 550 Linden Avenue. Painted by local artist Whitney Brooks Abbott in 1996 for an interior wall at Tyco/Kilovac, we’re thrilled that this mural is now in a position to be viewed and enjoyed by the whole community.