Map | Our guide to finding local art in Chico

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CHICO — What is art? To paraphrase former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, perhaps “I’ll know it when I see it” should be our guide.

Now that the days are sunny and bright and the nights are cool and clear, there are plenty of opportunities to see and enjoy the City of Chico’s fine public art collection. That’s why the Enterprise-Record is launching a new, interactive “Chico Art Map,” which you can access online at chicoer.com.

It’s made with Google My Maps, so you can even download it on your favorite handheld device and create your own walking tour. The map has three distinct overlays: Murals and Mosaics in blue, Sculptures and Metals in purple, and Benches and Pedestals in yellow. They’re all color-coded, and many have details on the name of the piece, the artist and when it was installed.

But the question of how to define public art is trickier than you’d think. Do we include art and murals that are only accessible inside private businesses? Or does that defy the “public” part of public art?

What about graffiti? If you’d say no, what about graffiti that’s meant to be rebellious, public art; like Banksy’s work?

How about old art that is broken or fading? There are some lovely, old murals around town that are completely obscured, chipped or partially removed. Should we discount them?

  • "Our Hands," a sculpture by Donna Billick, installed near the Chico Municipal Center at Fourth and Wall streets in 2000. (Robin Epley -- Enterprise-Record)

  • A message of "Love" casts a bright glow onto Main Street from the Lulu's headquarters in downtown Chico. The mural was painted by locals Jed Speer and Kris Smith in 2018. (Robin Epley -- Enterprise-Record)

  • Outside Upper Crust Bakery on Main Street there are two commemorative pedestals, the more colorful of the two celebrates Chico's plentiful farmers markets. It was built by artist Kari Zigan with the help of Chico Country Day School in 2007. (Robin Epley -- Enterprise-Record)

  • This curlicue sculpture is called "The Spiral" and was created by artist Dave Brown in 2008. It's placed in the middle of Oak Way Park. (Robin Epley -- Enterprise-Record)

  • "Basis Weightlifter" is a relatively new addition to the Chico public art scene; it was created in 2017 by artist David Felkirk on the side of the Basis Health & Performance gym at 177 E. 20th St. (Robin Epley -- Enterprise-Record)

  • "Let's Rock" is an art installation piece on the third floor of the Chico Muicipal Center building, just outside the city manager's office. It was created in 1982 by Paradise resident Eddy Martinez Hood. (Robin Epley -- Enterprise-Record)

  • The two mosaic Diamond Alley Arches are between the Diamond Hotel and the parking garage, connecting West Third Street to West Fourth Street. According to a nearby plaque, they were built in 2003 by Kathleen Nartuhi and David Barta, with the help of the children of Chico. (Robin Epley -- Enterprise-Record)

  • The Abbey Road Gate guards the entrance to Formal Education at 127 Main St., and was built to commemorate and replace a popular mural that was brought down by renovations next door. It was built by Old Chico Iron and installed in 2017. (Robin Epley -- Enterprise-Record)

  • John and Annie Bidwell peek out from behind an overgrown palm tree on W. Second Street. The artist behind the mural is none other than John Pugh, of Chico State's "Academe" mural fame. (Robin Epley -- Enterprise-Record)

  • "Poetry Rock" is located behind the Chico Area Recreation and Park District building on 545 Vallombrosa Ave. It was built by John Staple in 2003 and features a poem by George Keithly. (Robin Epley -- Enterprise-Record)

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These questions and more led us back to Justice Stewart’s wise words. To wit: I decided if it’s publicly accessible if it was intended to be viewed as an art piece and if someone can safely garner enjoyment from it, it’s included.

Well — I’ve tried to include it.

Chico has an awful lot of art, you see. And on this map, you’ll find more than 50 pieces and installations, but I know there’s many, many more waiting to be found.

Hopefully you’ll even be surprised by a few that we found: The majority are in downtown Chico, but there are several, like the catfish sculpture in a field just north of Highway 32, or the Silver Plow installation sculpture south of the city on Park Avenue, or The Spiral at Oak Way Park that are well worth the drive, bike ride or walk. There may even be a few that you’ve walked past for years and never seen, like the faded, lonely window washer on the wall above 131 Main St.

If you know of a mural, bench, mosaic, sculpture or any other kind of public art — be it officially condoned or not — you can help this project grow by emailing repley@chicoer.com. It’ll help if you can include a picture and the details (if you have them.) Then get out there and enjoy our city’s plentiful, beautiful public art this summer.

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