Asistencia of San Antonio de Pala Wall Design from the portfolio of "Decorative Art of Spanish California" 1935 - 1942

This wall design from the Asistencia of San Antonio de Pala is made up of simple, rhythmic shapes and a muted palette. The circular form is echoed in the rounded curves of the leaves, painted in earthy browns, blues, and creams. I imagine the artist repeating each shape, over and over, working through the design and maybe even losing themselves in the process. Were they thinking about the specific walls where this design would appear? How the colors would interact with the light in the space? I bet they were considering the function, about how the design would contribute to a bigger picture, or the atmosphere of a place. The repetition reminds me a bit of Sol LeWitt, in the way the shapes build up, in the act of repetition, to become something more. It makes you think about the patterns all around us, repeating and evolving. Painting can do that – turn your attention to the visual world, find these moments, and build on them.