The Alleyway Art Project
  • Our Murals
    • The Rhododendron
    • Sub Rosa
    • The Lighthouse
    • The Fish Mural
    • Queen Bee
    • Mendocino Panorama
    • Two Years
    • Sunlit Redwood Forest
  • Sponsors & Partners
  • Contact
  • Latest Press

Harbor Seals

Harbor Seals

Artist: Nicola Beatts
Location: 203 N Main St. Behind Napa Auto Parts. (near the Alder St. entrance to the headlands trail.) 
When we first looked at this corrugated steel wall we thought there was no way we could do any design other than something geometric. But Nicola Beatts was undaunted. She is locally famous for her marine mammal artwork at locations such as the Noyo Center for Marine Sciences and the alleyway behind Roundman's Smokehouse and she had a vision for this wall. Her proposal was a warm underwater sunset, with blue harbor seals pausing in their ocean frolics as if they are observing the viewer curiously, as bull kelp sways in the currents before a white mandala of solar radiation. 

When she is not blowing us away with her mural talents Nicola is often found at Triangle Tattoo. 
As this mural neared completion the Alleyway Art Project partnered with The Nature Conservancy to put on an Ocean Awareness themed street festival to celebrate this addition to our local public art collection. 
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Inspiration for this Installation

This mural is located next to the Alder street entrance to Fort Bragg's gorgeous Headlands Trail. 
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Tattoo of some rhododendrons, by Jacob.
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"Pink Delight" species of rhododendron. Photographed by Jacob.
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Sketch of "Pink Delight" by Jacob.

The Process

It took over a month to install the mural.  Jacob started by projecting a sketch onto the side of the building at night and tracing it with charcoal. Then he removed all the previous paint in the areas the mural would cover. He was careful to leave the peeling paint on the rest of the building to preserve the weathered look. Oil based primers went on first, followed by tinted base coats, shadows, highlights, colors, and details, all building to create an image that appears to leap out at you from the side of the shed. 
Learn More about the Alleyway Art Project

Rhododendrons on the Mendocino Coast

Tender species rhododendrons are found between 25- and 35-degrees latitude at elevations between 4,000 and 9,000 feet in their native habitats in Burma, China, and Tibet. In North America, only a narrow strip from Santa Cruz, California to Brookings, Oregon is suitable habitat for these plants. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is close to the center of the optimal zone—the southern part of this strip is limited by low rainfall and restricted groundwater, while the northern section is limited by periodic extremes of cold. The lack of summer rain is offset by coastal fog and by the availability of irrigation water from local creeks.

About the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

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Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a 47-acre nonprofit botanical garden that stretches from Coast Highway 1 to the Pacific Ocean and contains world-recognized plant collections. The Gardens was founded in 1961 by retired nurseryman Ernest Schoefer and his wife, Betty. Ernest's keen eye spotted the ample supply of water augmented by the mild coastal climate and quality soil essential to acid-loving plants like Rhododendrons. In addition to rhododendrons, this botanical jewel has collections of fuchsias, magnolias, heaths, heathers, dahlias, heritage roses, mushrooms, succulents, camellias, and conifers. Specialty gardens include a perennial garden, woodland garden, and vegetable garden. Natural areas include riparian zones, shore pine and bishop pine forests, and ocean bluffs. The trails are great for both long and short walks (dogs welcome!). Visit www.gardenbythesea.org for more information.

Visit the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

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Other collections at the Botanical Gardens

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Begonias bloom June-October
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Magnolias bloom January-March
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Fuchsias bloom June-October
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Dahlias bloom June-October

See all our murals in
downtown Fort Bragg

The Rhododendron - Behind 300 N Main St.
The Fish Mural - 345 N Franklin St.
Mendocino Panorama - Hwy 1 where the train tracks cross the street
​Sub Rosa - 400 E Laurel Ave.
Sleeping Cat - 223 E Redwood Ave.
Tarot Cat - 128 E Redwood Ave.
Be a Light - Main St. and Redwood Ave.
​Queen Bee - 481 N Main St.
Redwood Frolic - 221 E Redwood Ave.
Sunlit Redwood Forest - 301 E Redwood Ave.
Protean Forms - Behind 300 N Main St. (look north past the Rhododendron) 
Harbor Seals - Behind 203 N Main St.
​From Finland to Fort Bragg - 345 N Franklin St. ​
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  • Our Murals
    • The Rhododendron
    • Sub Rosa
    • The Lighthouse
    • The Fish Mural
    • Queen Bee
    • Mendocino Panorama
    • Two Years
    • Sunlit Redwood Forest
  • Sponsors & Partners
  • Contact
  • Latest Press