In the fall of 1996 the Indio Chamber of Commerce formed a committee to develop a Historic Mural Project to help revitalize the economy of the city. This concept is not new, though, and several communities have already benefited significantly from similar programs. Communities, such as Chemainus B.C., El Paso, Texas, Eureka and 29 Palms, California, have seen tremendous growth and development. Chemainus, with a population of approximately 3000 people, has seen 104 new retail stores open as a result of their efforts.
The suggestion to start a mural project was first brought to the city by David Hernandez, the "Father of the Tamale Festival®," after he visited Chemainus. Very little happened with this concept until 1996, when the National Date Festival commissioned Bill Weber of San Francisco to do a mural of the Taj Mahal. At the same time, Bruce Clark, who was and still is, instrumental in promoting Historic Route 99 (Indio Blvd.) to its former status as the Main Street of California, brought the idea forward again, after seeing the success of a similar program in 29 Palms. When Bruce presented this idea to the board of directors of the chamber, the timing and membership was right and the idea was immediately recognized as something that could provide a major impact on city economics, pride and tourism.
Projects like this require a great deal of tenacity and willpower when they are starting, and funding can be a major obstacle, especially if the area has economic challenges. Needless to say, not everyone sees the vision and gets on board in the beginning of any project, so twelve private businessmen agreed to underwrite the funding necessary to get this program started. After discussing various ways to raise the necessary dollars to make this project self-funding, it was decided to print a limited edition series of paintings, numbered and signed by the artist, to be sold to the general public. Similar programs have been used successfully in other places and, to date, many prints of our first mural have been purchased and the first mural is well underway to becoming a complete financial success. These prints sell for $150 each and other towns, who are using this method to finance a mural program, find the value of these reproductions tends to increase.
Business owners, service groups and the public, in general are encouraged to invest in the future of this community. Service clubs that don't have their own buildings can purchase a print and donate it to their favorite school or charity. This is one of those rare opportunities to which everyone can make a major contribution.
The goal of this project is to complete a series of murals. 6 murals have been completed and two more are to be finished by 2003 in the Old Town Indio area.
Revitalizing Old Town Indio with a new image and spirit, these murals will become a monument to our past and a vision for our future. To purchase one of these beautiful mural posters or a series of posters, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at (760) 347-0676 or 1-800-44-INDIO.
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