Artist: Boon Pang
Painting kotchas at Olompali
ABOUT THE DESIGN:
Kevin Akers artwork for the Novato Utility Box program on Redwood Blvd and San Marin Drive (Novato) celebrates Olompali State Historic Park and its inhabitants over the past 8,000 years.
One box pays tribute to native Coast Miwoks with their kotcha dwellings and tradition of basket weaving. A native wolf adorns another panel with Mt. Burdell on the back. This was home to the park's first families.
After Spanish Mission and during the Californio period, Coast Miwok Camilo Ynitia was granted the 8,800 acre Rancho Olompali Mexican land grant. When California became part of the U.S. he sold the vast majority of Olompali to James Black in 1852. Black gifted Rancho Olompali to his only daughter Mary Black Burdell on her wedding day.
The beautiful Victorian garden was created by his Mary Black Burdell. The crane sculpture atop the grotto was brought back from Japan by Mary in the early 1870s for her early Victorian garden. She and her husband, Dr. Galen Burdell, raised children James and Mabell Burdell in a grand mansion.
Another panel features the storied life of Mary Burdell’s daughter Mabell Burdell Coleman-Smith-Litchtenberg.
Educated in Europe, enormously wealthy and married at least three times, her life was filled with glamour, ranching, powerful paramours, lawsuits, kidnapping and murder. In the roaring 1920s she was the Elizabeth Taylor of Olompali.
The Grateful Dead leased Olompali for the months of May and June in 1966. The front panel depicts the estate's time as a true hippy-haven, culminating in a poolside concert with The Dead, Janis Joplin and an array of counter-culture devotees.
Rendered in a 1960s vibrant pop-art style, I hope the artwork encourages a visit to Olompali and instills pride in the park from locals to tourists alike.
Kevin Akers
Olompali: A Hippie Odyssey
A Film by Gregg Gibbs
This film is available for free at your public library. We also have copies that we sell.