Press Release
December 1, 2000
SONOMA, CA -- For the third time, wine country fine artist and Sonoma resident Steffan Gold is putting a fresh
face and his signature style on a 46-year-old Sonoma Valley landmark mural.
Originally painted in 1954, the 24-by-42-foot outdoor Broadway Mural loved by locals and tourists is located in
the heart of downtown Sonoma at 500 Broadway Street. The painstaking restoration, which began in June, will have
used more than 500 artistic hours upon completion.
Gold was first commissioned in 1976 by the Sonoma Valley Historical Society to restore and update the mural, a
gigantic map that highlights several Sonoma Valley destinations and historical points of interest. At that time,
more than 20 years of Mother Nature had deteriorated the map. In 1989 the Sonoma Valley Historical Society again
sponsored Gold to completely repaint the work of art.
``When I first painted the mural more than 24 years ago,'' said Gold ``little did I know that I would have the
opportunity to paint the mural three times.'' The Broadway Mural is a time-consuming, challenging and precarious
project, as much of the work is completed on ladders placed against the building perching the artist 20 feet above
the sidewalk and onlookers below. Now known by many as ``Sonoma Plaza's Resident Artist,'' some of Gold's work
can be found at The Corner Store/Buena Vista Tasting Room, Maya Restaurant, the original Mary's Pizza Shack and
in private collections.
The Broadway Mural Restoration 2000 has been privately financed by local businesses that will appear on the map,
a contribution by the City of Sonoma and the Barton Family. Historical points of interest include Sonoma's Temple
Lodge, Depot Park, Swiss Hotel, Sonoma Barracks, the Bear Flag Monument, Blue Wing Inn, Vasquez House, Sonoma Valley
Visitor's Center and the Mission San Francisco Solano. Destinations and business featured on this version of the
map include Arrowood Winery, Bartholomew Park Winery, Benziger Family Winery, Buena Vista Winery, Carmenet Winery,
Cecchetti Sebastiani, City of Sonoma, Frank Howard Allen (for Sebastiani Theater), Gloria Ferrer Champagne, Gundlach
Bundschu Winery, Imagery Estate Winery, Kenwood Winery, Mary's Pizza Shack, Sonoma Cheese Factory, Sonoma Creek
Winery, Swiss Hotel & Restaurant, Valley of the Moon Winery and Vella Cheese.
Gold, a graduate of the California College of Arts & Crafts, is also the full-time art director and partner
with his wife Rochelle Zatkin of Architectural Signs & Associates. Assisting Gold on the Broadway Mural Restoration
2000 are aspiring artists Misty Jeremias and Rob Struven. For more information contact Rochelle Zatkin at 902 Enterprise
Way, Suite P, Napa, CA 94558, telephone 707/258-0771, visit the Web site at www.asagraphics.com
or send an email to rochelle@asagraphics.com.
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Contact:
Rochelle Zatkin, 707/258-0771 (artist contact)
rochelle@asagraphics.com
or
Adams Walter Communications
Lisa A. Walter, 707/996-1529 (press contact)
Email: lisa@adamswalter.com