A colorful tribute to Goleta's past is taking shape at the corner of Hollister and Kellogg avenues in Old Town, where local artist Curtis Crawshaw is painting a mural inspired by the city's history and traditions. The piece, designed specifically for its location, is meant as a gift to the city and a fresh jolt of color for a stretch of Old Town long defined by its local businesses and tight-knit community ties.
Crawshaw, who owns Foundation Press Design and Print Studio, created the artwork in collaboration with the City of Goleta and the Carpeteria retail shop, according to the Santa Barbara Independent. The imagery draws on deep local roots, with references to the Chumash people who originally inhabited the region alongside nods to Goleta's agricultural history, the outlet reports.
As reported by KEYT, the mural is expected to be finished within the next month, and once complete it will offer a public display celebrating the area's identity for residents and visitors passing through the corridor. Residents and supporters have rallied around the mural effort as the painting has progressed, per the same report.
Funded Through the City's Old Town Grant Push
The project received its financial backing through Goleta's Old Town Pride of Place grant program, according to Noozhawk. That same outlet reports the program awarded the family-owned Carpeteria business $15,000 toward the mural.
The grant program itself was broader than a single mural. The City of Goleta announced an award of twenty-two grants totaling $120,000 for projects meant to enhance Old Town and draw in customers and visitors, with funded ideas including vibrant public art murals.
Addressing a Construction-Weary Stretch of Hollister
The push for murals and storefront upgrades traces back to construction headaches along the corridor. A 2025 report from the Santa Barbara Independent said the Pride of Place program was intended to freshen the look of blocks heavily affected by construction near Kellogg Avenue and the narrowing of Hollister Avenue to one lane.
At the time, plans referenced new murals at both Carpeteria and S.B. Aquatics in Old Town, per that same Independent report. An earlier concept described by Noozhawk outlined a Carpeteria mural design featuring Goleta elements like monarch butterflies, ocean wildlife, lemons and avocados spread across three large panels, with the Goleta Design Review Board reviewing the conceptual design and offering supportive feedback. That same report noted discussion of practical safeguards for the piece, including anti-graffiti coating and placing the design about six feet above the sidewalk to deter vandalism.
Goleta Councilmember James Kyriaco framed murals as part of a broader effort to reshape the district's energy. “Whether it's more aspirational programs like murals, or more tangible improvements like new frontage or signage for better visibility, there's a lot to like about what's coming to Old Town,” Kyriaco said, as reported by KEYT.
For now, the Hollister and Kellogg corner remains a work in progress, with Crawshaw's brushwork gradually filling in the tribute to Goleta's Chumash heritage and farming legacy. If the timeline holds, Old Town will have a finished piece of public art within the next few weeks.
