Artists sought to paint murals inside USFS restrooms at Lake Tahoe to inspire stewardship

TAHOE CITY, Calif. The Tahoe Fund and USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) have announced a new collaboration. They are looking for community-based artists to “beautify” the blank interiors of the restrooms at the Stateline Fire Lookout Trail in Crystal Bay, the Logan Shoals Vista Point on Tahoe’s East Shore, and the Tallac Historic Site on the South Shore.

They hope murals depicting Tahoe’s plants, animals, and beautiful landscapes will reduce vandalism, and inspire people to take care of Tahoe.

“We are excited to rally the creativity of our local artist community,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “By painting murals on the walls inside the restrooms, we hope to inspire people to take better care of these spaces and—by extension—the Tahoe environment.”

Inspired by a similar idea from the Bureau of Land Management in Henry Lake, Idaho, this mural project intends to enlist artists and community groups in the California and Nevada area to complete the artwork.

“We’re looking for artists who can use their creativity to seamlessly establish a ‘sense of place’ within the Tahoe region and also inspire people to be stewards of the environment,” said Daniel Cressy, Public Services Staff Officer, LTBMU. “Just like visitors in Henry Lake have experienced, our hope is that surprise encounters with art that depicts the beauty that surrounds us in Tahoe will be a fun, memorable way to think about how each of us can make a difference.”

In Idaho, the response to the restroom art has been well-received, with visitors saying things like: “I’ve been in many campground bathrooms. This one is the best by far!,” “Your art in the john surprised me and made my day! Thank you!!,” and “I swear those bathrooms are going to end up on TripAdvisor as one of the ‘must see’s…”.

Paint for each mural will be generously supplied by Kelly Brothers Painting.

Artists interested in submitting a proposal for consideration will need to do so through this Google Form time-stamped no later than 6 p.m. Pacific Time Friday, March 29, 2024. Artists will be judged and selected by the Tahoe Fund, LTBMU and select community members in April. The mural installation will occur in May 2024, weather permitting.

Learn more about the project and submission criteria at https://tahoefund.org/paintamural.