Walk-through Walls

Benicia’s Historic Tannery Building

By Mary Swift-Swan

Standing at the entrance to the Tannery shop and eatery complex, near the bottom of 1st Street in Benicia, was mesmerizing. The walls of the quiet complex are covered in murals that look realistic and serene. Some of the murals in the hallway use bright pastels to create a fantasy effect, while others create an inviting landscape to walk into.

The creator of these lovely murals is Cynthia Alfaro Giroux. She is a well-known talent, heavily booked by local interior designers, homeowners, and commercial businesses in Solano County. Born and raised in Vallejo, Cynthia moved to Benicia 38 years ago. Each month, on First Friday’s on 1st Street, many shops stay open late, so people stroll the streets in the evenings. Said the Solono County native, “When I first moved here, there were only five stop signs in town. It has grown but still has a small- town feel and sense of community. I love the parades. It is a fun place.”

Several years ago, Cynthia inquired about moving to a large studio in the multi-use historic Tannery building. The owner of the building asked if she would paint the hallways in the complex. She began the task with fellow artist Caroline Patrick, who for a time shared the studio. As Cynthia’s subtle style became even more noticed because of the murals, she got so busy that Caroline had to finish the hallway painting project. At one point, the restaurant on the south side of the Tannery was remodeled, and the new Shoreline Restaurant owner hired her to paint its walls. In her studio, she has the same stunning view as the restaurant, the Straits and the Carquinez bridges. The area used to be a brackish marsh and a haven to birds. The murals she painted on the walls were an inspiration to complement, not compete, with the fantastic view. A branch of a tree outside the restaurant was incorporated into her mural, continuing the tree inside to frame one side of the bank of windows. To big to sketch, she painted the walls as she imagined it.

Cynthia selected a sky blue color for the walls and ceiling of the restaurant and bar area. The birds depicted on the walls sometimes land outside. She might be adding pelicans to the scene, since they have been part of the view for the last two years. Overall, the effect is quiet, serene, and beautiful.

After the main interview, we viewed the thick book showing some of her many projects. In some locations, she needed to paint a specified subject that was difficult to do on location. In those cases, she paints on canvas, then cuts out the canvas and uses wallpaper paste to affix it seamlessly into the rest of the painted mural. This technique has allowed clients to take that part of the painting with them if they move because the canvas can be removed and rolled up to be transported to a new location.