By Pat Guyer
Special to the Chronicle
A mural is often used to lend depth and interest to a room or courtyard, magically transforming an ordinary wall into a three-dimensional vista of a pastoral scene or cityscape. Deborah Goss has painted dozens of mural's over the years, both in homes and for businesses, and her artistic creations have lent beauty and ambiance to many a room. But when the city of San Carlos commissioned her to paint two mural's for it's new library, she knew it would be an especially challenging project. Goss, who lives in San Carlos with her husband and two sons, was presented with the task of painting a montage that would feature the library itself, as well as other San Carlos landmarks and events. She received the commission in September and completed the pair of 6-foot by 11-foot panels March 15. The mural's were en cased in Lexan and mounted on either side of the library's main entrance May 8. "She's blended wonderful skills, great local knowledge and a love of San Carlos," said Michael Garvey city manager for San Carlos. "Her personal skill and commitment radiate from the work. I think the mural's are one of the best features of San Carlos' celebration of our 75th anniversary. They somehow blend the nostalgia of a past 'City of Good Living" with current physical reality. Yet, somehow, there is a hint of the future within the artwork. And that hint is a positive one, a statement about the kind of community we are working to become." And her work is being noticed. "When I went to the library I saw a group of teenagers looking at the mural's," said San Carlos resident Cal Eitel. "What surprised me even more than how great the mural's were, was the that teenagers were appreciating art." Goss' task began with some photography and research on the history of San Carlos. Preliminary sketches were drawn up and submitted to a local committee. When the final plans were approved, Goss then transposed them to six wood panels, each measuring approximately 6 by 3 1/2 feet. One mural reflects the history of the town, and the other provides an overview of modern-day San Carlos and attests to why locals refer to it as "the city of good living." The historical mural's features an oak tree with a majestic canopy. At the center is the old Victorian train depot, and at the bottom right, the San Carlos Grammer School. Goss' task began with some photography and research on the history of San Carlos. Preliminary sketches were drawn up and submitted to a local committee. When the final plans were approved, Goss then transposed them to six wood panels, each measuring approximately 6 by 3 1/2 feet. One mural reflects the history of the town, and the other provides an overview of modern-day San Carlos and attests to why locals refer to it as "the city of good living." The historical mural's features an oak tree with a majestic canopy. At the center is the old Victorian train depot, and at the bottom right, the San Carlos Grammer School. The focal point of Goss' second mural is the new library itself, and could even be called an advertisement for all that makes San Carlos such a tightly knit community. "Every time I look at them, I discover something new," said Evette Royce, a San Carlos resident. The San Carlos library is at 610 Elm Street, at the San Carlos Civic Center.
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