Goleta Old Town is seeing a significant artistic addition as a new “Welcome to Goleta” mural progresses on the Carpeteria store building at 5610 Hollister Avenue. The mural, located across from Jonny D. Wallis Park and near new roundabouts, features Goleta history icons and local flora and fauna, transforming a wall that had been blank for 47 years. Foundation Press, a Goleta screen printing and design studio, began painting last week and has already completed several elements of the large artwork.
The mural’s design incorporates specific local imagery. On Thursday, elements visible included paintings of lemons, California poppies, the train, Goleta Pier, and the historic Barnsdall Rio Grande Service Station, all beneath the phrase “Welcome to Old Town Goleta.” Curtis Crawshaw, business owner and mural artist for Foundation Press, is leading the installation. He collaborated on the design with local artist Jessica Altstatt, who was initially the lead artist but stepped away for personal reasons. Altstatt, also a marine biologist and community science leader, presented a conceptual design to Goleta’s Design Review Board in June. Crawshaw appreciated Altstatt’s expertise in marine wildlife and the local environment, ensuring accurate depictions in the design.
Carpeteria owners Avo Semerjian and his family shared that people stop by the wall daily to admire the art. Semerjian stated that the local family business has been at the Hollister Avenue storefront for 47 years, and the wall has remained blank until now. The mural is supported through the city’s Old Town Pride of Place grant program, which awarded the family-owned business $15,000. However, Semerjian noted that this grant does not cover all expenses, with the family fronting the remaining costs. These additional investments include installing security cameras and applying a topcoat treatment to deter vandalism, which Semerjian called “an investment we want to protect.” He added that this is their way to thank Goleta and its residents and the Goleta City Council.
Crawshaw described his painting strategy as aggressive, aiming for the final result to be “great, not good.” He prefers not to publicly reveal the complete design, wanting to surprise residents as elements are painted each day. As a Goleta native, Crawshaw aimed for the mural to feel timeless and designed it to feel like it “belongs to everyone.” He estimated that approximately 200 hours of work had already gone toward the mural, split among five people as of Thursday. One challenge in the design was integrating two pillars that segment the large wall, which Crawshaw worked to make an asset rather than a deterrent.
The mural project has fostered community partnership, even including neighboring residents in the painting process. Crawshaw also noted that the mural’s timing feels “perfect” with ongoing Project Connect in Old Town Goleta and Foundation Press’ 20th anniversary, expressing an absolute honor to be given the permission to just be creative in such a public, open and big space. Goleta City Councilmember James Kyriaco, who represents the Old Town area, applauded the mural’s progress at a recent meeting. Kyriaco remarked that it has been “fun to watch it grow and evolve” and highlighted it as part of a broader initiative to support Old Town during a period of construction and change. While the mural does not yet have an exact completion date, it continues to make steady progress daily.