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County CollectionLa Verne LibraryArtist:
Frank Matranga
Date:
1985
Region:
San Gabriel Valley
District:
Fifth
Location:
La Verne Library
3640 D Street La Verne, CA 91750 Department:
Public Library
 
Click for larger photos
Project DescriptionIn 1985, when the new La Verne library was being built, Frank Matranga was commissioned to create a mural with a historical theme. Composed of glazed ceramic tiles, this mural in the foyer of the La Verne Library is described by the artist as a “very traditional design.” The mural features motifs and local area landmarks such as the Church of the Brethren, the Lordsburg Hotel, and the Lordsburg depot with citrus trees and mountains in the background. The 10’ h x 16’ w work pays tribute to the history of the region by referencing these symbols of local pride. See Frank Matranga, Diamond Bar Library About the ArtistFrank Matranga received his BA and MA from Los Angeles State University. While working on his MA, he was offered a job teaching ceramics at a local high school. This led him to discover a lifelong love affair with clay. He completed his MFA and later studied at USC under Carlton Ball. In 1961 he started his own ceramic studio in Redondo Beach (later moved to Manhattan Beach) and began to teach in the Los Angeles Community College system, which he would do for the next twenty years. His public art career began in 1970 when Sears, Roebuck, and Company commissioned him to create seven murals for Sears stores in the Southern California area. In the following decades he has completed over 50 ceramic mural commissions for libraries, private companies, and homes. In 1977 and 1979 he was invited to be an artist in residence in Japan, where he exhibited at the American Embassy Gallery in Tokyo. His work has also been shown in Australia and Germany. |
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