• Washoe Tribe Chair Serrell Smokey and young artist from Washoe and Paiute tribes, Aspen Carillo in front of her new mural
    Washoe Tribe Chair Serrell Smokey and young artist from Washoe and Paiute tribes, Aspen Carillo in front of her new mural
  • Aspen Carrillo created this tribute to the Washoe Tribe on side of building at Lakeview Commons.
    Aspen Carrillo created this tribute to the Washoe Tribe on side of building at Lakeview Commons.
  • A photo of what the new mural will look like by Dave Justice going up on Ski Run Liquor
    A photo of what the new mural will look like by Dave Justice going up on Ski Run Liquor
  • Mural by Craig Newman on the side of the Freshies/Pirate store building
    Mural by Craig Newman on the side of the Freshies/Pirate store building
  • Fish mural by Rynoart next to Tahoe Production House and car wash at US50/Tahoe Keys Blvd.
    Fish mural by Rynoart next to Tahoe Production House and car wash at US50/Tahoe Keys Blvd.
  • Girl with backpack by Matt Kaufman on side of Bears Den by Steamers.
    Girl with backpack by Matt Kaufman on side of Bears Den by Steamers.
  • Coming soon by Matt Kaufman going on the back of South Lake Brewery Co facing Sugar Pine Village
    Coming soon by Matt Kaufman going on the back of South Lake Brewery Co facing Sugar Pine Village
  • Coming soon by Matt Kaufman on back of Beverly Lodge along Fairway Dr.
    Coming soon by Matt Kaufman on back of Beverly Lodge along Fairway Dr.
  • Aspen Carrillo created this tribute to the Washoe Tribe on side of building at Lakeview Commons.
    Aspen Carrillo created this tribute to the Washoe Tribe on side of building at Lakeview Commons.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – A collaboration between the Tahoe Art League, local artists, and the City of South Lake Tahoe, more murals are appearing on the sides of South Lake Tahoe buildings.

The latest was created by Aspen Carrillo is a Washoe Basket and a tribute to the life of Washoe at Lake Tahoe, the center of their life. Members of the Washoe Tribe, including Chairman Smokey, were at the mural last week for a celebration of the completed work.

Aspen is also working on refreshing the mural at the Lake Tahoe Museum. That mural was part of a South Lake Tahoe mural series over 20 years ago, many of which are no longer around. Those remaining include the one at the museum, the side of the El Dorado County building at US50/Takela, and on the side of Meek’s in Meyers.

Local artist Craig Newman previously painted the mural at Hotel Azure and has finished a mural of surfboards on the side of the Freshies/Pirate Store building.

Art teacher Matt Kaufman has finished a mural of a girl with a backpack on the side of Bears Den by Steamers. The Bear’s Den is now owned by the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless. The mural is designed to show how housing insecurity is a significant issue for many of our children here in Tahoe, according to Rebecca Bryson, president of the Tahoe Art League. She said it shows how we need to address this issue to ensure that all of our kids have a place here where they can feel like they belong.

Kaufman has two others underway:

The first with the pyramid, bike, and flowers will go on the back of South Lake Brewing Co. and will face the parking lot of the new Sugar Pine Village. Kaufman will be creating the mural with some art students from South Tahoe High School.

The second shows the kid on a bike in the blue sky and going on the back of Beverly Lodge along Fairway Dr. Kaufman will also do that with high school students.

Tahoe Art League will hold an upcoming fundraiser to help fund Kaufman’s work (more to follow). Besides donations, they are also always looking for walls around town to place art on. Please contact Tahoe Art League at info@talart.org.