Press

What is paradise? For Shane Grammer, it’s a spray paint can in his hand on a boom lift. It’s bringing joy and inspiration to people through art. It’s a mural on a chimney. That’s what really started it all. Paradise, a California city ravaged by fire and not a whole lot left standing… including their finances and their dreams. Shane looked at the decimated chimney of his friend’s house and saw something only he could see. Hope. So, he did the one thing he knew he could do, he painted.

The site was his friend’s previous home that had been consumed by fire. But not just his home, there were so many homes destroyed all around. Shane wanted to bless his friend, little did he know he would inspire and touch the entire community and beyond. So, Shane painted the face of a woman with radiant blue eyes looking out into the world, into the community, and into the lives of the people of Paradise. This look communicates so much to so many including, but not limited to: I see you through the ashes of what was, I see what will be, I know there is more to come, let your dreams arise.

Shane’s friend’s house was located on Clark Road, one of the few ways into Paradise.  People would drive by and they would see the chimney. It caught the attention of so many. It started out with local press from Paradise and went viral locally before going viral internationally. The first media to reach out to Shane was from Redding, then Chico, then Action News Now and then Enterprise Record. The chimney was painted January 1, 2019.

One night while Shane and his wife Missy were reading the comments, Missy said, “(Shane), you’ve gotta go back up (to Paradise).” Shane had a plan to paint 5 murals in 5 days. When he got there, he was completely bombarded. He was interviewed 4 or 5 times during those 5 days and for months after he kept getting contacted by press for interviews.  

Please enjoy reading the press releases from these notable news sources regarding the mural in Paradise, California.

LA Times

On the cover of LA Times – 2019 a journalist followed Shane around Paradise to multiple locations. The journalist meet people from the town and filmed in several locations. Shane also showed him multiple paintings in multiple locations. Please click here to see the article.

 

CNN

February 2019 Please click here to see the article

 

National Geographic

View National Geographic Photo here. Trailer to the film please click here

 

Washington Post

February 5, 2019 Please click here to see the article. To the viewer, you may need to create an account. Account consists of an email address and a few questions. No credit card, no obligation just an email address.

 

Associated Press

Top photos of the year, click here to see photos, if you click read article the photo is about the 12th photo from the top.

 

My Modern Met

Read the article here

 

Sacramento Bee

Must allow ads and turn off ad blocking to see article. Read the article here.

 

Ron Howard

Ron Howard did a documentary on Paradise. Watch the movie by clicking here.