KING CITY — Mee Memorial Healthcare System (MMHS) has announced a new mural in King City with artists Paul Richmond and Brenda Scettrini-Saglio, who designed the scene located at 809 Broadway St., facing Canal Street.
The mural showcases South Monterey County’s natural beauty and vibrant community, depicting rolling hills, abundant agriculture, native wildflowers and butterflies.
The project is a collaboration between the artists, King City in Bloom and King City High School. King City in Bloom volunteers will plant native flowering plants beneath the mural in continuance of its theme, and high school students plan to fabricate metal butterfly sculptures to decorate the area.
Located in the heart of King City, the mural is a tribute to the region’s beauty and rich heritage. It celebrates the essence of rural life, civic pride and positivity.
“We are grateful to everyone who played a part in bringing this project to life,” said Mee Memorial CEO Rena Salamacha. “It is a testament to what we can achieve when we come together with a shared vision and passion for our community.”
One of the artists, Scettrini-Saglio, is a retired physician assistant who provided medical care for several Mee Memorial employees and their families.
“Brenda came to mind immediately when we were looking for local artists to complete this project,” said Alicia Crespo, MMHS facilities coordinator and former patient of Scettrini-Saglio. “We wanted to create a beautiful mural that celebrates nature and reflects the strong sense of community that defines Southern Monterey County.”
Scettrini-Saglio, who lives in Monterey County, is also a human rights activist. She serves as a member of Arts Against Bullying, an arts organization that raises awareness about bullying and violence through artistic freedom.
Richmond is an internationally recognized visual artist and activist whose career has included exhibitions in galleries and museums throughout the United States, as well as publication in numerous art journals and anthologies. He co-founded the You Will Rise Project, an organization that empowers those who have experienced bullying to speak out creatively through art.
Represented by Muse Art Services, Richmond lives in Monterey and is the executive director of Art Makes Us, a virtual creative space that provides opportunities for individuals to discover and nurture the artist within.
The mural project was made possible by the financial support of the Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC) and the Community Foundation for Monterey County.
The mission of Arts4MC is to improve the quality of life for everyone in the region through the arts, and the Community Foundation provides grants to create healthy, safe, vibrant communities in Monterey County and beyond.
“We are so pleased to support the healthcare system in South County and to make the mural possible — encouraging a warm welcome to clinic patients,” said Janet Shing, director of grantmaking with the Community Foundation for Monterey County.
The mural will be formally unveiled later in the year when the new Mee Memorial Children’s Health and Wellness Center, located in the building, officially opens.
