Sausalito Beautiful is proud to support the “Marin City-Sausalito Tunnel Art Project: All Our Children United.” The nearly completed public art project along the walkway under highway 101 symbolizes the connection between two historic Marin County communities and celebrates the unification of our public schools.

After two years of planning and negotiations with the County and Caltrans and raising the necessary funds, the project to clean and beautify the tunnel under 101 with a mural celebrating Sausalito and Marin City school children is underway!

The Steering Committee invites the community to celebrate the completion of this long-awaited project on Saturday, November 19 from 1-3 p.m. (rain date November 20). There will be refreshments and a musical parade through the tunnel linking our Sausalito and Marin City communities. RSVP at: https://bit.ly/3N3DjYR

Power washing the grimy tunnel walls occurred at night from October 15-16, followed by painting a neutral color base coat. In this last week of October, painting the mural itself will begin with bands of sunrise-to-sunset colors the entire length of the tunnel.

Then local architect and artist Raylene Gorum and team will complete her design by painting a pattern of bright blue child-size handprints on the color bands. Once completed, anti-graffiti coatings will be applied.

An initial grant from Sausalito Beautiful enabled Gorum, a Sausalito artist and architect, to develop an innovative design, advanced further with support from the Sausalito Foundation. Raylene’s final design (rendering pictured above) simulates children’s handprints arrayed on a colorful background evoking sunrise and sunset. With improved tunnel lighting, the mural will enliven the tunnel walkway that school children and other walkers and cyclists use every day.

Members of the Steering Committee are Carolyn Revelle (Sausalito Beautiful Board and SWC member); Sonja Hanson, Sausalito Foundation; Felecia Gaston, Performing Stars of Marin, Dr. Shirley Thornton, Arts + Foundation; and Susan C. Shea, former Sausalito resident and non- profit fundraiser.

More information about the project is at allourchildrenunited.org.

This project is a collaborative effort led by a steering committee of community leaders from Marin City and Sausalito: Felecia Gaston (Performing Stars), Dr. Shirley Thornton (Arts+ Bayside MLK), Sonja Hanson (Sausalito Foundation), Susan Shea (author and fundraiser) and Sausalito Beautiful’s Carolyn Revelle.

Endorsements include the Sausalito City Council, the Marin City Community Services District, Sausalito-Marin City School Board, Marin Open Studios, the Sausalito Foundation, Performing Stars of Marin, local churches, and Sausalito Beautiful. The Marin Community Foundation has also provided a generous grant. Community fundraising is underway to complete the budget and ensure community engagement.

Negotiations with Marin County and CalTrans are nearing completion. Implementation will occur when these two entities have signed off on the final plans and necessary agreements.

Implementation steps include:

• Cleaning and painting the tunnel walls with base paint
• Painting the panels of color and the handprint design
• Applying anti-graffiti coating to protect the artwork

Proposals to enliven and ensure the safety of the tunnel go back over a decade. As Sausalito and Marin City celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Marinship and the unification of our public schools, we are delighted to be part of this public art project linking our two communities.