April 27, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Extraordinary art on ordinary lawns

by Casey Reivich

While heading down the quiet neighborhood of Ventura, passersby might find themselves doing a double take. Alongside the robust and fragrant rose bushes in Vivian Vaile Robison's front yard are three almost 8t-foot-tall red, white, and blue windmills.

The tallest is reminiscent of farm windmills from the 1930s. A gust of wind spins the large bicycle wheels and funnel-shaped cream separators. Vivian's late husband, Jim, first encountered these scrap-metal windmills while visiting Iowa and decided to make some himself.

"It took him a long time to build, almost a whole summer. He went around to different farmers. They found the cream separators. He boxed them up and shipped them home," Robison said.

The windmills have proudly stood in the front yard for more than 10 years. Neighbor Kory Nini said fondly, "People take pictures and bring their children and stop just to look. Everybody likes it."

All across Palo Alto, in unlikely places, there is extraordinary artwork adorning the front of houses, reflecting the homeowners' creative spirits. Some Palo Alto purists find the art jarring, but most neighbors appreciate and enjoy the spirit of individuality the works bring.

At the age of 58, Rochelle Ford ended her successful corporate career and devoted herself full time to sculpture. Her transformation is reflected in her and her husband's Spanish hacienda-style house, a contrast to the other stately homes in Professorville. The exterior of the house is painted purple, orange-red, and gold. In lieu of a lawn, there is a large art garden -- a showcase for some of her larger, more ambitious pieces.

An expansive metal collage covers a stained-glass window Ford thought never belonged.

For the most part, Ford's house and artwork are a hit. A couple years ago, the home was featured in Better Homes and Gardens . Ford also sometimes wakes up to find admirers have left material for her to use in future artwork.

Ford realizes, however, that her unique home is somewhat controversial.

"I understand from friends that some people love the house or they hate it. It's understandable being the historical part of town," she said.

In the neat and Eichler-abundant neighborhood of Palo Verde, two homeowners are also quietly shaking things up. Artists Merrill Bickford and Judy Gittelsohn know it's in the Eichler spirit to be creative.

At first glance, the lumbering, animal-like sculpture in the right hand corner of Bickford's front yard is not overwhelmingly obvious. Upon closer inspection, the sculpture, which Bickford refers to as the "cowardly lion," is made of fishnets and other quirky disregards, such as an old wooden tennis.

Sculpting under the name Stuart Harwood, Bickford is an inventive and prolific sculptor. He has sculpted with some of the unlikeliest materials, including hornet nests and dryer lint.

Since Bickford's stroke a year and a half ago, he hasn't been quite as active. Despite the stroke, works such as his "cowardly lion" out front bring him pleasure. "The kids on the street love it," Bickford said.

If you need to get your bearings on Middlefield just look for Judy Gittelsohn's "HERE" sign. The ironic and yet plainly stated artwork is made up of orange plastic letters and is mounted on top of Gittelsohn's Eichler home. Gittelsohn, an accomplished acrylic painter and art teacher, moved to Palo Alto from San Francisco in 1999.

All of Gittelsohn's neighbors and friend rave about her sign.

"People love it," she says. "People can find the house. They say, 'We live right next to the "HERE" sign.'"

Gittelsohn also doesn't worry about the integrity of her Eichler atrium, on which the sign is posted. Her splash of irony is no travesty. She thinks that artistic people are naturally drawn to designs like Eichlers. "The Eichler is a fluid idea of how to live. It's not so formal."

In Crescent Park, the cheerful mural painted on Rita Vrehl's garage door is the antidote to residential staidness.

The mural was painted by family friend Oscar Castillo, a Peruvian artist who also painted the mural covering the tunnel on California Avenue. Vrehl wanted a mural that included her beloved -- but now deceased -- rooster Snooks; her rambunctious Boston terrier; and the dahlias, goldfinches, and the hummingbirds that inhabit her garden.

Castillo handmade the stencils and then airbrushed the painting. He worked outside on her driveway while neighbors and passersby looked on. Vrehl was not intimidated to add something new to her eclectic, but extremely well-maintained, neighborhood.

"I thought it was great," she said. "I kind of think Palo Alto is too staid," she added with a playful smile.

Judy Logan, a neighbor for nine years, said, "The mural goes well with the garden. I thought it was very individualistic. I much prefer that to traditional."

Vrehl, a registered nurse who has lived in Palo Alto since 1986, has sensible outlook on displaying artwork outside.

"You need to be respectful of your neighbors. Walking a middle line is best. I don't have any personal statements to make. It's just fun," she said.

Editorial Intern Casey Reivich can be reached at creivich@paweekly.com.

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