IT'S A COMMUNITY PROJECT\Mural will portray history of the valley.

Byline: Laurence Darmiento Daily News Staff Writer

Murals have always been a populist art form, often displayed on the side of a building and free for the viewing - the antithesis of the million-dollar masterpiece sealed off in a museum.

At the Newhall Community Center, a mural that will trace the history of the Santa Clarita Valley has been taking shape for months, suitably claiming 520 square feet of the center's white, cinder-block walls.

Rolling hills of brownish-green chaparral and a Father Sun set in a blue sky are the backdrop to a boxing ring, a ping pong table and other games for teen-agers and children.

But even in the realm of murals, this artwork stands out. The brainchild of CalArts student Sandy Rodriguez, it is being created with the assistance of many sets of hands.

"It's amazing how it's brought together people who ordinarily wouldn't be working together," said Rodriguez, a 20-year-old native of Canyon Country. "Children, parents, grandparents are all asking if they can work on it. I'm trying to paint as little as possible."

The artwork was commissioned last year after the center's manager, Veronica Navarro, decided something needed to be done to spice up the high, warehouse-like walls that once housed a furniture store.

Navarro was told about Rodriguez, who had been involved with city projects as a high school student, and the two came up with the idea of a community-oriented, historical mural.

"I just thought it would be a nice idea to have something up. Go to any other (city's) community center and they have murals," said Navarro. "The kids see it and they all want to get involved."

Flora Medrano, 17, of Newhall, who is a frequent visitor to the center, has been working on the mural with her 12-year-old sister and 9-year-old brother. She said she has been considering a career in art, and has learned a lot from Rodriguez.

"Sandy teaches us how to use the paint, how to use the wet sponge, how to look at the picture, the basics," said the senior at Bowman Continuation High School. "My little brother and sister love working on it."

Rodriguez said getting community members involved was an important element from the very beginning.

"I try to have them do most of the work, so they have a sense of pride, so they feel a part of it," she said. "It is their mural."

Rodriguez got training for her current project through the California Institute of the Arts' Community Arts Partnership Program.

The program puts CalArts students to work with community youth creating arts projects. These include a water sculpture at Kaiser Permanente's new Valencia office that Rodriguez worked on.

However, the mural is different, because Rodriguez was directly commissioned by the city, and has managed the project by herself. That impresses Bonnie Robinson, the school's community arts program coordinator.

"We are proud of her," said Robinson. "Sandy has really taken a leadership role."

Unlike many historical murals that section off different eras, the mural will include events from different periods in one large picture, which will be framed by handprints of children at the center.

In the background will be depicted events and figures from pre-Columbian times, with more recent history portrayed in the foreground. Rodriguez, who is getting school credit for the project, said the mural should be completed this spring.

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PHOTO

Photo (color) CalArts student Sandy Rodriguez stands, paint brush in hand, by the mural she's creating for the Newhall Community Center with help from the community. John Lazar/Special to the Daily News