The True Heart of Petaluma. Ode to the Fairgrounds #1

The City of Petaluma is proud to announce the installation of Michael Garlington’s artwork, “The True Heart of Petaluma. Ode to the Fairgrounds #1” at the Petaluma Fairgrounds. The 130-foot-long photo mural features portraits of 118 Petalumans with ties to our historic Fairgrounds and was commissioned by the City to honor the Fairgrounds’ central role in Petaluma’s past, present, and future.  

Garlington’s “Ode” showcases collaged portraits of community members associated with Petaluma’s agricultural community, rich fairgrounds history, racing events, local organizations, on-site education programs and the various events hosted at the Fairgrounds. The subject portraits were photographed with a Super Graflex 4 X 5 formatted camera and digitally laid out. The mural is affixed to the rear of Speedway Bleachers and is 20-feet-tall, visible to neighbors to the West and North.

The mural provides a unique opportunity to express the values of the City through public art. Subjects were selected through word of mouth and public engagement at the Petaluma Fairgrounds during May and June 2024. During the process, people shared their stories of the Fairgrounds and the valuable space it provides.  Not all photos taken were used in the mural and there are many more community members not represented that contribute to the special culture found there. We will continue this vision at the Fairgrounds and value your investment in this special place.

The City is especially grateful to Michael Garlington, the artist, for creating this piece with so much heart and respect for our community. The artist’s portraiture is internationally renowned, and his work has been featured at Burning Man, the De Rosa Preserve, the Smithsonian Institute, and the Hermitage Museum and Gardens. Garlington’s signature style feels reminiscent of the past and wholly new all at once. To learn more about the artist and his work visit Portrait Photographer | Michael Garlington.

“What a great honor it’s been to meet and photograph the rich community of the Petaluma Fairgrounds. I was born and raised in Petaluma, so I feel a great kinship to the location and the families that help bring up this beautiful town."

- Artist Michael Garlington