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Painted by artist Frank Samaro III, the “Greetings from Redlands” mural brings color, history and community pride to Orange Street.
REDLANDS, Calif. — A once-overlooked wall in downtown Redlands has been transformed into a colorful tribute to the city’s most beloved landmarks, traditions and community spirit.
The recently unveiled “Greetings from Redlands” mural celebrates civic pride and identity through bold, postcard-style imagery. Painted by artist Frank A. Samaro III, the mural spans the north-facing wall of Viva La Boba at 501 Orange St. and features vivid scenes from across the city—from the Redlands Bowl to the YMCA Circus—each letter in “Redlands” filled with a different visual story.
“This achievement is a testament to the power of community, creativity, and leadership coming together to make something truly special,” said Evan Sanford, executive director of the Redlands Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the annual Leadership Redlands program. The mural was officially unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, March 28.
The project was conceived and carried out by members of the 2024 cohort, who navigated months of design meetings, mural site scouting, community partnerships and fundraising. For Gabriel Brown, Kara Torbert, and Sarah Armes—three members who helped lead the effort—the mural became a labor of love and a legacy project.
“This is literally our mark on the city,” said Armes. “It’s something that adds value and reflects what we love about Redlands.”
“We wanted it to be iconic but also fresh,” said Brown, a Redlands native who helped coordinate with muralist Frank Samaro. “Frank has this amazing modern style that brought it to life in a way that feels really current.”
Samaro, a Redlands resident with deep roots across the Inland Empire, is known for blending realism with surrealist elements. “It was an honor,” Samaro said of the commission. “To be asked to do something like this for the city, in such a prime location, meant a lot. I wanted to bring my own touch to it—like the oranges and drips I’ve used in other murals—but also make something uniquely Redlands.”
Rather than follow the muted aesthetic of other postcard murals across the country, the team and artist opted for vivid, saturated colors and a bold, contemporary font.
Choosing what would appear inside the mural’s letters was a process shaped by the group’s time in Leadership Redlands.
“We all remembered day one when we piled into tour buses and we toured the city together,” Armes said. “So many of the places we included—like the University, the Bowl, the Smiley Library—were part of that experience.”
Not everything chosen was historic. The team made a conscious effort to include living community symbols like Umbrella Alley and the Redlands Bicycle Classic. Natural symbols of the city—such as poppies, palm trees, orange blossoms, and mountains—also surfaced whenever the team discussed what felt iconic, explained Brown.
Landing on a location proved more complicated. The team considered multiple sites downtown but struggled to get in touch with building owners. Eventually, a wall offered by Viva La Boba proved the right fit—especially after some heavy lifting.
“There were parking signs and a long line of bushes,” Armes said. “O’Reilly’s said we could take the bushes out—but they weren’t going to do it.” So the team gathered with gloves, hedge trimmers, and a crew of volunteers, and made short work of it.
Leadership Redlands class of 2024 clearing bushes before mural painting. (Photo: Brooke Blake Courtesy)
Viva La Boba co-owners Tansu Philip and David Friedman played a key role in securing the space. The class credits Blake Vazmendes, another 2024 participant, with coordinating site logistics and navigating permissions with neighbors.
Once the wall was ready, Samaro worked closely with the group to finalize the design.
“We went through so many iterations—what belongs in which letter, what fits where,” said Torbert. “But once it was painted, we were blown away. People would literally pull over while it was in progress just to say how cool it was.”
The class raised $5,558 to fund the project, with early support from Redlands Community Hospital and other local sponsors.
To add one more layer to the mural, the team developed a digital StoryMap—accessible here or via QR code at the site—which explains the design choices, shares sponsor names, and dives into the history behind each image featured.
“Quite often, you see these murals in cities, but you don't really know what's going on,” said Brown. “You don’t know who did it, you don’t know why, you don’t know the history. We wanted to change that.”
Leadership Redlands, organized by the Redlands Chamber Foundation, is known for its civic learning opportunities and group projects. For the Class of 2024, the months-long project offered plenty of road blocks but also the chance to leave something lasting.
“It taught us where there's a will, there's a way,” Armes said. “That's really what it kind of boils down to. We were so determined.”
Explore more about the mural at this link to the digital StoryMap: Greetings from Redlands
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
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