San Clemente’s ‘Character Counts’ beach mural is back with new look, same key message

The quaint San Clemente beach now has a bit more character – and a splash of color that puts a spotlight on its rich surf culture.

The beloved “Character Counts” North Beach mural is back, in a new version, on the concession building that sits on the sand at the rock-dotted beach.

Artwork with the same theme was first painted at the beach more than two decades ago – the 2000 project was coordinated by the San Clemente Sunrise Rotary Club with the San Clemente High School’s Interact Club, a youth Rotary group.

But in 2017, as the abandoned beach building started to deteriorate from the salt-water air and needed to be repaired, the popular painting was whitewashed, leaving just a blank wall to the dismay of the community.

“There was a huge outcry,” said Sally Guon, youth chair for the San Clemente Sunrise Rotary Club’s District 5320. She worked with the city and artist to resurrect the art.

Plans to bring back the mural in 2019 were sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic, but earlier this year the project got back on track, this time with the help of well-known surf artist Joshua Paskowitz, who just finished a massive mural downtown on Del Mar.

It was just the kind of project Paskowitz said he likes to focus his work on – beach scenes that give a nod to the region’s surf culture and an opportunity to work with the town’s youth to showcase the importance of keeping kids interested in art.

“When we came up with the concept of redoing the original idea, we thought of adding more dimension and character to the kids,” he said.

San Clemente High School artist Estella Olivares, 17, submitted a proposed drawing and was selected to lead the mural project.

“My whole deal is that I want to foster art in San Clemente, so the kids know art is a way they can express themselves – it’s a real, legitimate outlet that can do a lot for people,” Paskowitz said. “If we can get our community more actively involved in the arts, I feel like it will elevate the whole town.”

The coastal town’s identity revolves around the surf and beach culture, Paskowitz noted.

“I honestly feel like surfing and art is a perfect marriage. Because surfing is art. And the lifestyle of the surfer is art,” he said on a recent day, painting with his feet in the sand while dolphins frolicked in the backdrop.

Olivares said though there were changes to her original idea, it kept the same beach theme.

“I just try to draw what’s fitting for a certain piece,” she said. “The first thing I think of when I think of the city is the surf culture … I just want to make art people enjoy looking at and can connect with.”

It was also important to her to highlight the city’s diversity as a town that has a deep and rich Hispanic culture. Growing up, she attended Las Palmas Elementary, a dual-immersion program where she learned Spanish.

“It was important to her to bring in the whole cultural vibe of San Clemente,” said mom Stacey Olivares. “Beautiful, playful, colorful. Everybody who is walking by is so excited – it just puts a smile on their face.”

The words painted on the mural’s surfboards – trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship – and the “Character Counts” title are an important piece of the Rotary Club’s messaging.

Other members from the Interact Club also helped the painting process and the group received a grant for the “Character Counts” theme to be part of a larger roll out to all high schools that have the program in Orange County.

Guon hopes the community will stop on the sand to soak in the scene.

“You get visitors, tourists and locals alike that come in and take selfies here,” she said.

The concession building remains empty, with the city receiving an offer but the operator is still discussing improvement requirements with Orange County health officials, a recent city staff report said. A draft lease is expect to go to the council once those discussions are resolved.

Ken and Priscilla Poczekaj, who live walking distance to the beach, made checking out the progress of the mural part of their recent routine.

“I like the idea of putting up nice murals that represent the community,” Ken Poczekaj said. “Awesome idea.”

Source: Orange County Register