Mural highlights Dixon debuts
A new mural honoring downtown Dixon’s history has brought some vibrancy to the corner of East A Street and North First Street.
The mural, located on the side of the Century 21 M&M Realty building, was painted by Linda Galusha and commissioned by realtor Angela Meisenheimer, who has long sought to adorn the city with more murals.
Back when she was chair of the parent teachers’ association for Tremont Elementary Association, she was a proponent of installing a mural at the school detailing the curriculum of what each grade level would learn, from the ABCs in kindergarten to California’s history in fourth grade. The mural currently is displayed outside the school’s office.
Another mural at Silveyville Elementary School — now Dixon Montessori Charter School — depicting the lives of the Patwin tribe was also painted by Galusha around the same time. Still, Meisenheimer sought even more murals for downtown, similar to the public art seen in cities like Davis and Chico. She commissioned Galusha for this task.
“It’s my gift to the community,” Meisenheimer said.
With the first phase of the Pardi Market Plaza completed, Meisenheimer said the mural would add to the “fresh, new look” of that corner of downtown.
The mural is a tribute to all things Dixon, from the vast farmland to sunflowers to the sight of hot air balloons in the background. It also memorializes longtime Dixonites Ed and Dana Foss, who died in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Ed can be seen riding an ATV, and Dana can be seen standing with an alpaca and a lamb, in tribute to their business Royal Fibers Farm.
Meisenheimer said she first met Dana Foss when Meisenheimer was president of the Dixon
Chamber of Commerce. A longtime real estate broker, Foss was a prominent part of Dixon for decades, including as president of the Downtown Dixon Business Association and the Lambtown Association.
“She always really cared about Dixon and was instrumental in the big development programs,” she said. “She gave a lot of herself to the community.”
The mural also includes the words “Historic Downtown Dixon — Established
1868” to make passers-by aware that Dixon has a long history. Among other things, Dixon had a horse racetrack that was popular for decades and was once the site of the Solano County Fair before moving to Vallejo.
“It has a lot of historic si g nif ic a nc e,” Meisenheimer said. “A lot of people come to Dixon, and I just wanted to showcase (its history).”
Meisenheimer drew a rendering of her proposed design, and Galusha worked with her on revisions. After going through a city permit process work began on the mural, which was recently installed. With the com
pletion of the first phase of the Pardi Market Plaza, she said it was an ideal location within eyesight of the redesigned corner.
“It was a big, empty wall and I thought it would be perfect for right there to show that you’re in downtown Dixon,” she said.
Public art has been appearing in Dixon more frequently over the years. Some of the more prominent murals in town include the garden on the side of Dixon Florist — also painted by Galusha — and the scenes of a horse race track outside Bud’s Pub & Grill. The latter piece was painted in 2007, as the city
was in the midst of a proposal to bring a new horse racetrack called Dixon Downs to the city. Ultimately, voters decided not to return horse racing to Dixon, but the mural remains 13 years later.
“They still have a beautiful mural on the side of the building,” Meisenheimer said.
Meisenheimer, who has served on numerous committees since she first came to Dixon in 1996, said she plans to add a frame around the new mural and also give it some extra lighting. She also said she was interested in having downtown murals honoring late longtime residents such as Larry Simmons and former Mayor Don Erickson, the latter of whom died Nov. 28. She said she would artist Colleen Gnos, who created “Stewards of the Soil” overlooking Interstate 80, had expressed potential interest and would be meeting with her in a few weeks.
Overall, Meisenheimer wants to add some more charm and character to downtown.
“(It’s) my gift to beautify and add to the downtown,” she said.