Pastoral California
Situated on the west wall of the Fullerton Union High School Auditorium is the Pastoral California mural, dedicated on November 22, 1934. Charles M. Kassler II and his assistant, Julian E. Williams, created the 15- by 80-foot mural using watercolors over wet plaster, known as the fresco technique. Funded by the Federal Works of Art Project (FWAP), the fresco depicts California’s mission and rancho periods from 1776 to 1846 in a series of scenes that feature animals, games and historical Mexican and Spanish figures from early California and Orange County.
On August 29, 1939, the Board of Trustees of the Fullerton Union High School and Junior College District voted to paint over the mural in response to complaints from the community. Prior to being painted over with beige paint in November 1939, the mural was protected with an oil coat to allow for future restoration. In 1996, the school district approved restoration of the mural with funding provided by the Fullerton Redevelopment Agency, the California Heritage Commission and community donors. The mural is a contributing element of the Auditorium’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places
Fullerton Union High School Auditorium, Fullerton, Orange County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt