A special focus of the August art walk will be the dedication of a mural inspired by local artist-architect Don Gibbs at 7:30pm at 4378 Atlantic Ave.
According to the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association (BKBIA), there have been several new murals produced in the neighborhood lately, including the POW!WOW! mural on the Expo Arts Center, but this particular art piece is something extra special for Bixby Knolls. The BKBIA wanted to work with Gibbs because of the impact that he and his father Hugh have made in Long Beach, including the fact that Gibbs Studios have been a part of the Bixby Knolls business district for many years.
Don Gibbs has been active from 1961 to the present. Hugh Gibbs, also an architect, opened his office, Gibbs and Miller, in 1934.
After studying architecture at USC, working with several other firms, and completing a stint in the Navy, Don joined his father in the practice in 1960, and became a partner in 1963, spearheading the design of the Gibbs and Gibbs office building.
Their firm built many projects, such as: the Navy Regional Medical Center in San Diego; the Long Beach Navy Hospital; the VA Biological Research Building in Long Beach; the Walter Pyramid, the Psychology Building, the Music Complex, the School of Dance and Theaters at California State University, Long Beach; the Warner Brothers Records building in Burbank; various elementary, intermediate, and high schools; courthouses, post offices, banks, and city halls of Long Beach and Downey; transportation facilities; and city service buildings.
Don received a Record House Award in 1963 for his house, the Gibbs House, in addition to 20-plus AIA Chapter Awards for the firm. He worked with his father until he died in 1990. Don continued on in his own practice while finding time to design and build a custom sailboat and sail it around the world with Donna, his wife of 57 years, and create art sculptures and paintings that now fill his studio.
Their son, Kurt Gibbs, took over the firm and is now in practice.
“We have talked for a long time about honoring Don in some way,” said Tokotah Ashcraft, First Fridays coordinator. “After visiting his studio and seeing the artwork he has created since ‘retiring,’ and understanding how big his impact was on Long Beach, we figured a mural would be a great legacy project. When we got the green light from the new property owner of the building, Davin Gumm, to move ahead with a mural project, we contacted local artist Noel Madrid to take on the project.”
Madrid, an art handler for Cadogan Tate fine-art services, is a regular at First Fridays. He also contributed to the BKBIA’s art “allery” at Burlinghall Drive and Atlantic Avenue for three months.
According to the BKBIA, Madrid’s style was perfect to emulate Gibbs’s mid-century modern/abstract style. Madrid recruited local artist Tracy Negrete to help with the mural.
The BKBIA applied for and received a micro-grant from the Arts Council for Long Beach to help fund the mural.
“This type of art project helps to further beautify our district,” said Blair Cohn, executive director of the BKBIA. “It’s a talking piece and very eye-catching. You can’t miss it driving south on Atlantic. We love all of our murals and painted utility boxes. This particular mural feels special because we had it designed by a long-time figure from our district who has been involved with so many great projects. We really admire him and his work.”
During the art walk, the BKBIA will also dedicate the new “allery” installation with a Joshua Tree series.
Source: BKBIA
