“Gearing” up for a distinctive Fresno billboard
FranCisco Vargas, formerly known as the Travelling Millennium Sign Artist, is a Fresno, CA-based muralist who owns his own shop, Studio Vargas.
During the last decade, downtown Fresno has enjoyed a cultural revival. Reza Assemi, an artist turned developer, has spearheaded the development of the city’s Mural District, an enclave that covers approximately 20 blocks from Tuolumne St. to E. Divisadero St. It features several galleries, studios and other artistically oriented businesses – and, of course, several, building-exterior murals that make the neighborhood a public-art treasure trove.
After a bid process, Assemi hired me to paint a billboard that would identify the district. Fortunately, Fresno’s sign and building codes don’t require permits for murals. The billboard, which measures 10 x 30 ft., presented a moderate challenge because of its location on a slanted roof atop wooden, handmade scaffolding. I quickly noticed a few weak spots and open areas. Pieces of scaffolding planks were missing, and its ends were very loose.
-->Assemi’s company fixed the problem quickly. The solution was something new to me – pump jacks, which provide a platform that can be adjusted by moveable brackets on vertical poles. I’d never used them, but I know other muralists and painters who have and liked them. The pump jacks were mounted on 2 x 4s, which were sufficient for me to reach the top of the billboards when I added another plank.
Originally, the mural was supposed to feature an art-deco scene. But, Assemi switched the theme to gears because of this area in downtown Fresno. Decades ago, the area had been a major industrial district, and he thought gears would provide a fitting tribute to the community’s heritage. I’d never painted gears on a mural, but with an Internet search, I researched different gear designs and created a template that Assemi ultimately approved for the billboard.
Preparation makes perfect
Assemi was more hands-on with this project than most clients. As a former artist, he wanted to experience working up on the catwalk and using different types of paints than he’d used in his career as a fine artist. Assemi thoroughly enjoyed working on the billboard.
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