RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The official unveiling of mosaic artist Robin Moyher’s mural Hometown Heroes took place on May 13 at B&J Body Shop, Kilgore Road at Folsom Boulevard.  From conception to completion the process took two years, and more than 8 months of that was the full-time physical creation of the mosaic mural.  “The images of the first responders are done in silhouette to represent that we often see them just for the service they offer: faceless, unmemorable, not as individuals, real people,” Moyher said.  “The backdrop of the tattered/fatigued flag reminds us that we remain one country, strained and stretched, but still united, overcoming all these challenges.”

At the beginning of the planning process, Moyher approached B&J owners Mike Passof and Dan Charlebois, and they agreed to house the mural, help install it and take care of it. “There was kind of a neat little community effort there as well,” Passof said. 

Jimmy Paniagua, with whom B&J had worked before, helped with the three-day installation and would not accept any money or reciprocation. “I want to be part of the cause of supporting the first responders and putting this mural up,” Paniagua told Passof.

Passof and Charlebois rented a lift from River City Rentals.  “I mentioned to them the effort and the cause that we’re doing it for,” Passof said, “for saluting the first responders, and they cut my invoice in half once they heard that.  It was a real neat, warm, fuzzy, community feeling about the whole thing.”

Public art in Rancho Cordova has been supported by Measure H, through the annual Community Enhancement Fund budget process, to the tune of $50,000 to $70,000 a year.  “We do a separate call for proposals to select the visual arts potential projects,” said Stacy Delaney, manager of the Community Enhancement Fund.  Because the number of applications exceed the money available, applicants must be evaluated by the art stakeholder group and the City.  “We have an impressionist landscape artist, who is also a member of the Rancho Cordova Arts board,” Delaney said.  “We have a local artist and local high school art teacher here in Rancho Cordova.”  Other members of the group include a strategic planning consultant for arts education, a student representative, the co-founder of the California Capital Film Office, and a professional photographer who is a member of the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce.

Moyher’s project was selected for a number of reasons.  “It touched upon the proud history of Rancho Cordova in terms of our military heritage,” Delaney said.  “It touched on paying tribute to some of our public safety personnel, whether fire and police, and it also highlighted healthcare professionals.”  A resident of Rancho Cordova, Moyher has also done past public artwork for the community, at the VA Northern California Healthcare System and at Mather Veterans Village.

Delaney said that public art fosters creativity and a love of the arts throughout a person’s lifetime.  “I also think it makes business sense because if you have a vibrant art scene, you’re going to attract new residents . . . new businesses, and other investments in the community.”  It also expresses the local culture and fosters community pride.

Moyher knew exactly whom she wanted to represent.  “I wanted to create something to honor our first responders who have given so much for us these past few years. The fires that have devastated our northern state communities took a hit on our firefighters.  Then the loss of a couple local police officers was even more painful.  The use of our National Guard during riot uprisings and during COVID cannot be overlooked, nor can the medical personnel who were the first line soldiers in battle against this virus that has shut down our country.”