Mural completed at Linnell-Brahma Park

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – The mural at the new Linnell-Brahma Park was completed Aug. 8.

Artist Jesse Moreno, a graphic artist here at KGET 17, put the final touches on the mural he began painting June 25. It was a joint project with the Art Council of Kern and the Bakersfield Recreation and Parks Department. Moreno invited the public to become a part of the process by coming out and filling in parts of the mural.

Some 30 people, most of them children with their parents, accepted the invitation and joined Moreno at the park, located at 411 Marge Road.

“It’s a blessing. This is something that I’ve wanted since I was little, to paint on walls and to be able to be a part of a project like this for the city in the art field,” said Moreno. “When I found out that I was one of the people selected for this project, I was so excited.”

The mural took about 125 hours and 8 gallons of paint to complete. The extreme heat Bakersfield felt this summer meant Moreno drew and painted from early morning until noon most days, before the temperature drove him inside.

He competed with other artists to win the right to create the mural, just as he had to do for his next project, which should kick off in September. Moreno will be creating two 200-feet-by-25-feet murals under the overpass at Q Street and Highway 204 for Caltrans. Plus, he’ll be painting 6 triangular entry and exit walls just outside of the overpass.

While Moreno hand painted the park mural, he said he’ll be able to use a spray gun for the Caltrans project and have a team of about 7 artists.

If you’re traveling on Highway 204 this fall, watch out for the painters and keep them safe.

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