By Terry Scott
Special to the Herald
The landscape of First Street improved Tuesday with the celebration of laying and unveiling of the last set of tiles created by longtime resident and artist Guillermo Wagner Granizo representing Dona Francesca Maria Felipa Benicia Vallejo and General Mariano Vallejo in front of the California’s First Capital Building.
The Benicia Arts and Culture Commission worked tirelessly to select the site and work with the city for the proper installation. Attending the unveiling was Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, and Councilwoman Christina Strawbridge and was surrounded by Mr. Granizo’s son Robert and many representatives of local arts and culture groups.
Mr. Granizo’s tiles have captured the history of Benicia though his pavement portraits and pictorials. The subject of the tiles are landmarks, events and people that shaped Benicia.
The first tiles displaying the history of Benicia were placed in the city’s sidewalks in 1988. This set of tiles is the last in the series of tiles depicting Benicia’s history.
According of Susan Garske, Chair of Benicia’s Arts and Culture Commision, “I want to thank Lee Syracuse , known as Mr. Benicia, for donating these tiles to the city and Al Gomes, the executor of Mr. Syracuse’s estate for presenting these tiles for the benefit and enjoyment for all who live here in Benicia or who visit our town to see our history presented in such an incredibly beautiful expression of art.”
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This is a lovely work of art and the city deserves credit as well for cleaning the other tiles along First St. For those who aren’t aware of it the Benicia Historical Museum has an exhibit of many other works this gentleman produced, as well as his fascinating life story – including his involvement on D-Day, a role for which he nearly lost his life.