Painting derived from original photograph by Patricia Sahertian. 2.5 x 4 inches, acrylic on photo paper.
When a history landmark gets destroyed by a storm the city rallies to restore it.
In this case it is the Diving Lady Sign of Mesa, AZ. Created as a beacon for weary travelers from the east coast, this sign’s main purpose was to let people know you could come to the Starlight Motel, not only for a restful vacation, but you could use the swimming pool too.
“paul millet” this painting derived from original photo of Paul Millet courtesy of Deborah Nelson and the Mesa Preservation Foundation. 2.5 x 4 inches, acrylic on photo paper.
Paul Millet opened his neon sign company in Mesa in 1946.
Working from a design created by artist Stanley Russon, Millet fabricated a 78-foot spectacle and a masterpiece. Every night, since its installation in 1960, when the sun went down the neon pin-up beauty leaped from the pinnacle of the sign in a three-panel animated sequence into a splash of neon water below.Source: Mesa Preservation Foundation
In 2010 a powerful storm blew through the valley and knocked down this iconic landmark. A fundraising campaign was started and the restoration began. A former student, Larry Graham, of the original neon artist, Paul Millet, was called in to do the work. In April of 2013, the sign was reinstalled in all its former glory.
Restoration work has cost about $120,000, most of which has already been donated by community members and in-kind services, Vic Linoff (president of the Mesa Preservation Foundation) said. Currently, the project still needs about $10,000 to be completely done.
Source: East Valley Tribune