The Bidwell Mansion
August 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
This photo is a very early view of Bidwell Mansion, circa 1868, taken shortly after completion. It was taken by E. A. Kusel who primarily photographed in Oroville but at that time he was also working in Chico. The grounds are newly planted. There is a man standing on the balcony as well as people on the porch. It looks like John and Annie are sitting there. A boy is in the foreground. It is a CARTE DE’ VISITE or calling card photo. Early photos like this are very scarce and hard to find.
Bank of Chico
May 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
This is the Butte County National Bank, around 1905 or so. It was on the South East corner of Second and Broadway. It was one of 2 major banks in early Chico, the other being the Bank of Chico which was across the street. The Butte County Bank later became the Bank of Italy and then the Bank of America. It eventually morphed into Chevy’s restaurant and is now Jamba Juice, Crush restaurant and Burgers and Brews. Note the upstairs window says O. Stansbury / Physician & Surgeon.
The Bank of Chico was a commercial bank and was next door to Cornforth Grocers on the South West Corner of Second and Broadway. It has been many banks over the years and is presently Chase Bank. Second and Broadway was the financial center of Chico.
Academe Pugh Mural
March 7, 2011 By 1 Comment
ACADEME
John Pugh
Academe, his first major work as a muralist, was completed in 1981 on the east side of Taylor Hall on the Chico State campus while he was still a student. This signature piece launched his career and established his reputation as a master of the so-called tromp l’oeil (fool the eye) style of mural composition and technique.
ABOUT
John Pugh
Born 1957, in Illinois. Raised in northern California. Received his BA degree in Art from California State University, Chico, 1983. Academe, his first major work as a muralist, was completed in 1981 on the east side of Taylor Hall on the Chico State campus while he was still a student. This signature piece launched his career and established his reputation as a master of the so-called tromp l’oeil (fool the eye) style of mural composition and technique. He has since completed over 250 public murals located in nearly as many cities, including, in California, Sacramento, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Los Gatos, Fremont, San Jose, Bishop, Tehachapi, Twentynine Palms, Pacific Palisades, Santa Cruz, Burlingame, Grass Valley, Madera, Merced, Dublin, Mountain View, Hayward, Santa Clara, Victorville, South San Francisco, and Palm Desert. Outside of California, Pugh’s public murals can be seen in Anchorage, Honolulu, New York, Miami, Phoenix, Denver, Boise, Fairbanks (AK), Dayton (NV), Syracuse (NY), Gatlinburg (TN), Sarasota (FL), Jacksonville (FL), Jacksonville (OR), and Winslow (AZ), Outside the United States, Pugh’s public murals are located in Calgary, Rotorua (New Zealand), and Taipei (Taiwan).
Received Chico State’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2003, on the twentieth anniversary of his graduation.
Named Master Muralist, Precita Eyes Mural Art Center in San Francisco.
Named Most Successful Mural Artist at California Mural Symposium, 2003.
Pugh owns two studios in California where he does most of his work: in Los Gatos and Truckee.