If you’ve been to downtown Walnut Creek, California lately, you’ve probably seen the lovely new mural gracing the wall above the former Mel’s Diner. It’s right on Main Street in downtown Walnut Creek and the vibrant mural’s bold, saturated colors can’t be missed.
The mural is titled “Flowers for Walnut Creek.” According to an Instagram post from Walnut Creek Downtown, the mural was painted by Berk of Berk Visual. The wall was donated by Brian Hirahara of BH Development, and the mural was funded by the Ghaben family.
Creating the Mural
Flowers for Walnut Creek is a spray-painted creation. A video provided by Walnut Creek Downtown shows the artist creating it, standing on a crane while slowly filling up the wall with paint. The mural features references to other public art around Walnut Creek, including pieces that can be found near the intersection of Main and Mount Diablo, and in Civic Park. Long-time Walnut Creek residents will definitely notice and appreciate these homages.
The mural also includes references to other local geographic and other features. The fire tower atop Mount Diablo appears in the mural, with a stylized eye replacing the searchlight on the tower. There are plenty of counter-culture elements, like a skateboard and people with mohawks, too.
The entire mural features bold, primary colors, with striking blues, yellows, and reds. This is definitely not a subtle piece of public art. You’ll absolutely notice it as you walk or drive through the downtown area.
The counterculture elements appear well-placed, as Berk of Berk Visual also designs tattoos, as well as murals for venues like skateparks. Walnut Creek has always prided itself on featuring plenty of public art (some of it controversial), and it’s cool to see a new mural suddenly appear in the East Bay town.
