Art Mural Trona, CA, photo Richard Elliott
COMMENTARY
As memories fade with time, so does paint. With the closing of the famous Route 66, in 1985, and the opening of Interstate 40, Needles, CA began slowly slipping away. Now, local artist Dan Louden has given Needles a breath of life and restored historical memories to town folk and tourists, with nearly a dozen of his painted wall murals placed around town, during the past six months. The story behind Louden’s artwork is like a miracle for Needles. A real chance happening for Louden and Needles.
It began when Susan Alexis, owner of the Wagon Wheel Restaurant, hired Louden to paint a mural on one of the cafe’s barren cinder-block walls. The freshly painted mural caught nearly every one’s eye. Something else Louden does was also an eye-catcher–he charges around $500 for small wall murals and can paint them in just a day or more!
Louden’s murals have recalled Needles’ ”glory days” as a railroad center and one of the many cities along ”The Mother Road” highway, as novelist John Steinbeck dubbed Route 66 in his novel, The Grapes of Wrath.
Louden may be somewhat of a modern day savior to fading Needles. His murals are drawing welcomed attention to the town and could bring a new birth to tourism, for those wanting to see the big wall murals, as well as historical Route 66 sites.
Hats are off to Dan Louden for his inexpensive, artsy and life-giving murals on the once drab walls of Needles. His unselfishness and concern for Needles is a welcomed change in today’s times. Maybe his “attitude” is a new rebirth, today. Great job Dan Louden!
Perhaps, when Louden has completed his final mural, city officials may put together a numbered tour of the murals, giving Needles an economical booster shot, as people will flock to the revived Needles.
Source: ”A touch of Paint Brings a Desert Town to Life,” by Phil Willon, August 30, 2011, LA Times.com (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-needles-murals-20110830,0,3940234.story)
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