The First People of Capitola

By Deborah Osterberg

The new Capitola Historical Museum exhibition, “Perspectives – Capitola in the Eye of the Beholder” explores an array of perspectives of Capitola through both the art and words of its beholders, past and present. In addition to artwork drawn from the museum’s permanent collection, the exhibition will include a new painting. On Saturday, April 2, from noon to 2 p.m.) the museum will host a public reception to unveil a painting by local artist, Ann Thiermann, which depicts Indigenous people gathering sea life along what we know today as Capitola Beach and Lagoon.

This is my 5th major research project on the aspect of Native American culture in California. I worked to carefully depict each aspect of fishing practiced by local Native American tribes who lived in Capitola before contact with the Spaniards.

The painting entitled, “The First People of Capitola Fishing & Foraging at the Beach and Lagoon,” commissioned by the City of Capitola, will be displayed as part of the 2022 exhibition. The Capitola-Soquel area is the ancestral homeland of the Aptos, Cajastaca, and Uypi people. The Capitola Historical Museum will continue to include Indigenous history and stories, past and present, in all of its future annual exhibitions.

A perpetual student and teacher, Ms.Thiermann’s work reflects her classical training, including a BA and MFA in painting and drawing, and three years classical figurative work at the Art Students’ League. An experienced college educator, Ann teaches fundamental skills in drawing and pastel through Cabrillo and Cabrillo Extension. Ms. Thiermann also offers workshops in the Southwest and abroad.

I love painting on location for the chance to hear and smell nature and watch the subtle changes in the light. Stretching a light effect across my landscape paintings gives me the same joy I feel when I craft musical phrases on the organ or piano. As a classical pianist/organist, currently at Messiah Lutheran and St. John’s of Aptos, I also strive to engage the viewer with the flow of color and line, akin to musical expression.

Nationally known for her Native American murals, Ms. Thiermann has created five major murals for libraries, museums, and California State Parks plus over 70 natural history murals throughout Northern California in both private and public venues. She creates landscapes and figurative work that portray a vitality, historical vision, and sense of place.

Twelve of her historical and playful murals grace Santa Cruz, from “Santa Cruz 1911” on Locust to “Ohlone Ways” at the Natural History Museum, to “Tugged In,” on Broadway in Seacliff. Four playful utility boxes found at Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, sunflowers at Rodeo Gulch/ Soquel and “Together” at State Park/Cabrillo College Drive bring smiles to pedestrians and drivers. Her commissioned portraits hang at Santa Cruz City Hall and in private homes.

All of Ms. Thiermann’s murals are deeply researched for accuracy.

Although this image [for the Capitola Historical Museum] isn’t my typical mural size, the level of detail and historical research reflects my working process when I create natural history murals.

A native Californian, her landscape paintings reflect a love and investigation of specific flora and fauna and seasonal changes in our beautiful Monterey Bay environment. She gained insight on the local archeological record from Cabrillo College professor Dustin McKenzie and consulted with local experts Mark Hylkema, archaeologist for the California State Parks and Pat Coulston of the California Department of Fish and Game. She took numerous photographs and made several sketches of models of Native heritage on the beach portraying traditional fishing and foraging activities.

In the Capitola painting Ms. Thiermann also

… wanted to show the color and beauty of the wonderful sea life that was so abundant along our shores. Today, at low tide, there is ample opportunity to discover shellfish and fish among the bedrock. We also have examples of humpback whales feeding on anchovies close to shore and driving schools of fish up onto the sands.

Her Capitola painting is set “… when the November rains opened the … lagoon to fresh water and Soquel [C]reek flowed out to the sea …[ushering] the return of steelhead to their spawning sites up stream.”

We hope you join us on April 2 for the unveiling of Ms. Thiermann’s painting or come view the people in her painting and the rest of the Capitola Historical Museum’s 2022 exhibition.

The admission-free Capitola Historical Museum is open every Friday through Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. The “Perspectives” exhibition will run through December 2022. The Capitola Historical Museum is the little red building at 410 Capitola Ave., next to Capitola City Hall. Contact the museum at 831-464-0322.

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Deborah Osterberg is Capitola Museum curator.