Artist Uses Ashes of California Fires to Create Incredible Mural Artworks

By
Pie
-

Disney artist Shane Grammer who was born and raised in Chico, California, decided to use his artistic skills to turn the ashes of the November 2018 Camp Fire into beautiful work of art.

The city of Paradise was one of the most affected by the enormous fire and Grammer began painting murals on various areas of the city that is destroyed by flames.

“As devastating as it was I really wanted to paint it and paint something that brought hope in the middle of complete destruction,” the artist wrote on Instagram.

Grammer’s first painting was a portrait of a woman drawn on a friend’s chimney. His mural went viral and he knew that more artworks will be done.

“I’ve always had this deep heart to bring hope and joy through my art with deep and destructive issues,” Grammer told KRCR news channel. “When the first mural on Clark Road moved so many people in this community emotionally I knew I had to come back up,” he continued.

Since then, Grammer has extended his paintings from walls to cars and other burnt structures. He always gets prior consent from the owner of the property and use this as his opportunity to get to know more about the people living in the city.

Grammer hopes that his art will bring happiness to the community. “I’m happy to be a small part of bringing hope and joy to this community and to these people who have gone through so much,” Grammer said.

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Paradise Camp Fire Mural Project Mural Entitled: Unexpected hope My wife Missy Grammer and I chose this title because of all the stories I encountered during the mural project up in Paradise California. Many of the locals would express the devastation they have been feeling and then out of nowhere they would see beautiful murals within the destruction. Unexpected hope arising out of the destruction. From the beginning our goal was to make a difference and bring hope to the Paradise Camp Fire victims. Thank you @hugheykevin and Hughey Phillips LLP for your support throughout this mural project in Paradise California. We could not have done it without your help. Terence and I were never paid for this work but @hugheyphillipsllp supported us by paying for all of our expenses. @terence_duffy you a friend for life! I love you work and I am so excited to share the thousands of photos you have taken throughout the mural project. My murals have told a story but your photography tells another story taking it to another level. . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #paradisestrong #hugheyphillips #terenceduffy #buttestrong #streetartglobe #montana94 #montanacolors94 #streetartportraits #streetartgallery #urbanportraits #urbanportrait #sprayplanet2017

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Over the next two days I Will share two more murals that I completed. This post is the last mural that I finished this morning. Mural number 12. My beautiful wife is the champion! When I came back home from the first trip we were both blown away by the impact these murals made on people throughout paradise. She said, “Honey you have to go back.” She has held down the fort at home taking care of our family and supporting me. I couldn’t do this without her love and support! Paradise has had an impact on me personally. I will be forever changed as an artist and have been humbled by all the wonderful people I have met along the way. Because of this project in paradise I have a deep passion to continue to create artwork that speaks and moves people emotionally. I am truly grateful to God for creating me to be a creator and I am so grateful that I get to make artwork for the rest of my life. Thank you @hugheykevin and his law firm @hugheyphillipsllp . Thank you guys so much for being a huge support throughout this mural project in Paradise California. We couldn’t do it without your help and support. @terence_duffy you a friend for life! I love you work and I am so excited to share the thousands of photos you have taken throughout the mural project. My murals have told a story but your photography tells another story taking it to another level. . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #paradisestrong #hugheyphillips #terenceduffy #buttestrong #streetartglobe #montana94 #montanacolors94 #streetartportraits #streetartgallery #urbanportraits #urbanportrait #sprayplanet

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Temporary Art Installation: I have been wanting to create this art installation for a long time and what a perfect way to do it up in Paradise overlooking the ridge. Creating this installation made me super emotional. It’s felt so good to have a vision and finally be able to create it and make it come to life. I am very interested in hearing what you see in this installation? Or what does it speak to you? Thank you to my wife Missy Grammer who is taking care of our family back home and believing in me enough to tell me to get back up to Paradise! I love you babe! I want to give a big shout out to @hugheykevin and his law firm @hugheyphillipsllp . Thank you guys so much for been a huge support throughout this project. We couldn’t do it without you! It’s great having the talented @terence_duffy! Terence Duffy you a friend for life! I’m looking forward to working with you again my friend. . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #paradisestrong #hugheyphillips #terenceduffy #buttestrong #streetartglobe #montana94 #montanacolors94 #streetartportraits #streetartgallery #urbanportraits #urbanportrait #sprayplanet

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The biggest thing that sticks out to me driving throughout Paradise is the endless images of burnt out vehicles and leftover chimneys still standing. One of the hard realities are the small business owners that lost their business during the fire. As we meet them we find out that a lot of them have to move away and start their business all over again. Here’s a small auto shop that completely burnt down. I thought this van was a beautiful canvas to paint. Big shot out to my wife Missy Grammer who is taking care of our family back home and believing in me enough to tell me to get back up to Paradise! I want to give a big shout out to @hugheykevin and his law firm @hugheyphillipsllp . Thank you guys so much for been a huge support throughout this project. We couldn’t do it without you! It’s great having the talented @terence_duffy! . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #paradisestrong #hugheyphillips #terenceduffy #buttestrong #streetartglobe #montana94 #montanacolors94 #streetartportraits #streetartgallery #urbanportraits #urbanportrait #sprayplanet

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The biggest thing that sticks out to me driving throughout Paradise is the endless images of burnt out vehicles and leftover chimneys still standing. One of the hard realities are the small business owners that lost their business during the fire. As we meet them we find out that a lot of them have to move away and start their business all over again. Here’s a small auto shop that completely burnt down. I thought this van was a beautiful canvas to paint. Big shot out to my wife Missy Grammer who is taking care of our family back home and believing in me enough to tell me to get back up to Paradise! I want to give a big shout out to @hugheykevin and his law firm @hugheyphillipsllp . Thank you guys so much for been a huge support throughout this project. We couldn’t do it without you! It’s great having the talented @terence_duffy! . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #paradisestrong #hugheyphillips #terenceduffy #buttestrong #streetartglobe #montana94 #montanacolors94 #streetartportraits #streetartgallery #urbanportraits #urbanportrait #sprayplanet

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I had to come back up to Paradise! As an artist I have been working for years to create art that connects and moves people emotionally. Here in Paradise that has happened. It happened so suddenly and unexpectedly. Both my wife and I felt I should come back up and do some more painting. We are so grateful that these murals have brought hope, joy, and inspiration to people throughout Paradise. We have met so many amazing locals that encourage us with our project and have helped us find locations to paint. Yesterday @terence_duffy and I spent the day doing recon. I had to go back to a few locations and clean up the murals because of the heavy rains. Today was my first day painting and here is the latest mural. I want to give a big shout out to @hugheykevin and his law firm @hugheyphillipsllp. Thank you guys so much for been a huge support throughout this project. We couldn’t do it without you! . . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #paradisestrong #hugheyphillips #terenceduffy #buttestrong #streetartglobe #montana94 #montanacolors94 #streetartportraits #streetartgallery #urbanportraits #urbanportrait #sprayplanet

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I had to come back up to Paradise! As an artist I have been working for years to create art that connects and moves people emotionally. Here in Paradise that has happened. It happened so suddenly and unexpectedly. Both my wife and I felt I should come back up and do some more painting. We are so grateful that these murals have brought hope, joy, and inspiration to people throughout Paradise. We have met so many amazing locals that encourage us with our project and have helped us find locations to paint. Yesterday @terence_duffy and I spent the day doing recon. I had to go back to a few locations and clean up the murals because of the heavy rains. Today was my first day painting and here is the latest mural. I want to give a big shout out to @hugheykevin and his law firm @hugheyphillipsllp. Thank you guys so much for been a huge support throughout this project. We couldn’t do it without you! . . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #paradisestrong #hugheyphillips #terenceduffy #buttestrong #streetartglobe #montana94 #montanacolors94 #streetartportraits #streetartgallery #urbanportraits #urbanportrait #sprayplanet

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Day 5 Paradise Camp Fire Mural Project: I think today I was moving pretty slow. I didn’t do any social media post. Definitely processing the whole week. So good to see friends from high school. Friends from my church growing up through high school and junior high. It felt like a reunion of friends and family. Meeting so many great people from the paradise community. This last Mural is a memorial as well as a home lost but we keep moving on. Moving forward loving our families. Story behind the art: This Mural is a memorial to Helen Pace. Helen was 84 yrs old. She was a widow. She is survived by four children, eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Her life was taken in the Camp fire. She was a dear, sweet, and kind lady. God rest her soul, in Jesus. Our goal is to make a difference and bring hope to the Paradise Camp Fire victims. I’m glad I’m going be busy creating artwork because it’s going to keep me focused. We will be here through January 14-18 and I’m going to paint as much as I can! Thank you @hugheykevin and @hugheyphillipsllp for your partnership and support. We are thrilled we have @terence_duffy to photograph all week as I paint. . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #terenceduffy #hugheykevin #hugheyphillips #hugheyphillipsllp #montana94 #montanacolors94 #paradisestrong #ptown #streetartportraits #spraypaintart #paradisecampfiremurals #montanashopla #buttestrong #buttecountystrong

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Day 4 Paradise Camp Fire Mural Project: As you can see there’s absolutely nothing left of Hope Christian Church located on Pentz Road in Paradise California. Wasn’t sure if there was anything I could paint. A lot of these locations we have visited seem that way at first but as you walk around surfaces began to appear. Both Terence and I saw the baptismal right in the middle of the destroyed church and thought, that’s it. I really wanted to paint a portrait of Jesus on a church that was burned down. I thought that would just be incredibly meaningful and powerful. Thank you Jeana Darby for reaching out and giving me permission to paint where your church used to stand. May God bless you and the whole congregation as you begin to rebuild. Our goal is to make a difference and bring hope to the Paradise Camp Fire victims. I’m glad I’m going be busy creating artwork because it’s going to keep me focused. We will be here through January 14-18 and I’m going to paint as much as I can! Thank you @hugheykevin and @hugheyphillipsllp for your partnership and support. We are thrilled we have @terence_duffy to photograph all week as I paint. . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #terenceduffy #hugheykevin #hugheyphillips #hugheyphillipsllp #montana94 #montanacolors94 #paradisestrong #ptown #streetartportraits #spraypaintart #paradisecampfiremurals #montanashopla #buttestrong #buttecountystrong

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Day 3 Paradise Camp Fire Mural Project: Ok, day 3 has been awesome and a struggle. The rain and the wind have kick our butts. Everything is soaked and muddy but the wind has really made it difficult. We stopped early and will go back to finish the mural when the weather calms down. Good news with @cmendonsa Cristina Mendonsa coming up from Sacramento to do an interview. So cool! And I had an hour long phone interview with the Washington Post in my wet and muddy pickup. But hey, The third Mural is almost completed. Story behind the art: When the home owner sent me his original email I was not inspired by the wall or chimney. Just because of the size. I was looking for a bigger canvas to work on. So that night I prayed about it and asked God to give me something for his wall. The next morning i woke up, turned over in bed and my wife Missy was sleeping facing me. Thank you God!!!! That's it!! Quietly got my iPhone and snap! There she is. I thought it was perfect. So this mural is going to be my amazing, lovely wife! Our goal is to make a difference and bring hope to the Paradise Camp Fire victims. I’m glad I’m going be busy creating artwork because it’s going to keep me focused. We will be here through January 14-18 and I’m going to paint as much as I can! Thank you @hugheykevin and @hugheyphillipsllp for your partnership and support. We are thrilled we have @terence_duffy to photograph all week as I paint. . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #terenceduffy #hugheykevin #hugheyphillips #hugheyphillipsllp #montana94 #montanacolors94 #paradisestrong #ptown #streetartportraits #spraypaintart #paradisecampfiremurals #montanashopla #buttecountystrong #buttecountyfire

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Day 2 Paradise Camp Fire Mural Project: Day 2 Mural was for my high school friend Nicole Weddig and her husband Greg Weddig who Lost their home in the fire. As I contemplated what I wanted to paint I thought it would be amazing to paint their daughter on one of the only walls left standing. It was awesome to spend time with them and hear their stories and I’m so glad the Mural has brought joy to their family. I also want to give a big shout out to Meaghan Mackey a reporter with KRCR. Thank you for coming out and doing the interview with us. It was great to meet you and we appreciate all the work you do. Also great to see my long time friend Joel Conner. Thank you for driving up from Chico and bringing us the pop-up tent. That was perfect timing. Thanks again my friend! Our goal is to make a difference and bring hope to the Paradise Camp Fire victims. I’m glad I’m going be busy creating artwork because it’s going to keep me focused. We will be here through January 14-18 and I’m going to paint as much as I can! Thank you Kevin Hughey and Hughey Phillips LLP for your partnership and support. We are thrilled we have Terence Duffy Photographs to photograph all week as I paint. Now we’re off to the next location! . . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #terenceduffy #hugheykevin #hugheyphillips #hugheyphillipsllp #montana94 #montanacolors94 #paradisestrong #ptown #streetartportraits #spraypaintart #paradisecampfiremurals #montanashopla

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I was born and raised in Chico California not too far from Paradise. It was so devastating to have so many childhood friends completely lose their homes. As I saw photos from the wreckage and aftermath of the fire it’s one of those things I knew I had to paint. One of my friends Shane and Jennifer Edwards we’re sharing photos of their house completely destroyed but the only thing standing was the fireplace. As devastating as it was I really wanted to paint it and paint something that brought hope in the middle of complete destruction. @montanashopla I absolutely love the Montana 94 Transparent colors. I’ll be back for some more very soon. . . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #paradisecalifornia #prayforparadisecalifornia #paradisecaliforniafire #streetartportraits #portraitartwork #montanaspraypaint #streetartportrait #spraypaintart #portraitartwork #artworkportrait #beautyfromashes #campfireparadise

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