Carlsbad Art and Culture

On November 7 and 8, Aspen, Colorado based artist Matty Davis painted the 26th mural on the Carlsbad Art Wall (CAW) located at Señor Grubby’s in the Carlsbad Village.

Rain and wind are words seldom used in the same sentence as Carlsbad. The sun above our Village is blocked more often by towering development than clouds, but on a weekend that saw the return of a local artist, the sky went dark; the ground went soggy.

The forecast for Matty’s Carlsbad return may have been extreme, at least for Southern California standards, but it did not deter his excitement, nor did it break his determination. Matty’s desire to gift art to his favorite community was unflappable, although it was not easy.

Matty began his short residency in the Village with a creative announcement. Upon his arrival, he placed 20+ pink birdhouses throughout the Village. Each birdhouse was branded with his signature and welcomed lucky finders to untie and take home the found prize.

The birdhouses swayed in the wind for days, but the mural painting started early Saturday morning. Matty arrived at the wall at 4am and began outlining his character as dark clouds loomed. As predicted, and at the most undesirable moment, the sky came down in a drenching downpour. Matty, barefoot and wet, watched many hours drip down the wall and into a muddy puddle.

Some may have cancelled and found a stool at the Señor Grubby’s bar, but Matty, only momentarily directionless, refocused and developed a plan. He raced to the local hardware store and returned with multiple tarps. This was a challenge he would not lose. He constructed a tent apparatus, a masterpiece in itself, and secured it with bricks, rope and jumper cables. In a raw moment of laughable anger, he could me seen atop the Carlsbad Art Wall cursing the sky, “it never rains in Carlsbad!”

The tarp provided much needed protection, although the occasional gust nearly sent Señor Grubby’s on voyage high above the wet streets. With the protection secure, Matty bounced around the wall while his bare feet slid atop the muddy ground, passersby who braved the storm snapped early photos and a steady stream of artists arrived to lend their help.

Bright colors built the early shape of Matty’s character while pen marks rendered form. The long-bearded character can be seen holding brightly painted birdhouses connecting the mural to the creativity scattered throughout the Village. As the sun sank behind the dark horizon, Matty tucked away the unfinished mural for a night’s sleep behind the weathered tarp. Matty retreated wet, tired and barefoot back his motel room.

The weather improved Sunday and allowed Matty focus on the painting while interacting with his many visitors. Friends from near and far visited the Village to see Matty, learn of his adventures and share artistic ideas. Matty’s smile translated to a desire to be back home in Carlsbad, but only when it is time. Until that time comes, Aspen is his current canvas—and who knows what’s next.

A bird may adventure in search of new experiences; it may explore foreign lands and meet new flocks. After these journeys, a bird always finds his way to where it started. Matty’s wings aren’t done flapping, but luckily they temporarily guided him back to Carlsbad where his creative energy was once again felt.

On behalf of the Carlsbad Art Wall and the Carlsbad Village community, thank you Matty for bringing your talents back to Carlsbad…hopefully the currents bring you this way again soon!

View all the 26 Carlsbad Art Wall murals!

The goal of the Carlsbad Art Wall is to bring new art to the Carlsbad Village every two months, provide an educational opportunity for aspiring muralists and stimulate local economic growth through urban art. Each year is funded by community donations and a long-time partnership with Señor Grubby’s.

November marks the opening of the Carlsbad Art Wall 2020 fundraising campaign. This project is not possible without the donations from us, the Carlsbad community. Please consider making a donation today. Make a donation today!

Thanks you,

Bryan Snyder
Carlsbad Art Wall Founder and Director