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Published 21:09 IST, June 25th 2019

IN PICTURES | This muralist creates 'art' out of 'ashes', painted the ruins of Paradise town post the devastating California fire

After the havoc of the horrific wildfires in California last December, an artist painted the ruins of the fire tragedy to raise hope among the residents. 

Reported by: Diyali Banerjee
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IN PICTURES | This muralist creates 'art' out of 'ashes', painted the ruins of Paradise town post the devastating California fire
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Art can transform lives in ways that one can't even imagine. After the havoc of the horrific wildfires in California last December, an artist painted the ruins of the fire tragedy to raise hope among the residents. 

A muralist named Shane Grammer took the initiative and pained the Paradise town of California, which was completely engulfed by the fire last year. He transformed the ashes, ruins and devastated structures into beautiful art forms to sooth the emotions of the residents who had lost property, loved ones and hope in the tragedy. Shane who has been panting the town since January has covered a maximum of it will his paintbrush. He is accompanied by a team, who assists him to support the cause. 

Opening up about how he first came up with the idea, in an Instagram post, he had said, "I was born and raised in Chico California not too far from Paradise. It was so devastating to have so many childhood friends completely lose their homes. As I saw photos from the wreckage and aftermath of the fire it’s one of those things I knew I had to paint. One of my friends Shane and Jennifer Edwards we’re sharing photos of their house completely destroyed but the only thing standing was the fireplace. As devastating as it was I really wanted to paint it and paint something that brought hope in the middle of complete destruction. @montanashopla I absolutely love the Montana 94 Transparent colors. I’ll be back for some more very soon."

Here's the post:

Take a look at some of his spectacular creations:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Day 3 Paradise Camp Fire Mural Project: Ok, day 3 has been awesome and a struggle. The rain and the wind have kick our butts. Everything is soaked and muddy but the wind has really made it difficult. We stopped early and will go back to finish the mural when the weather calms down. Good news with @cmendonsa Cristina Mendonsa coming up from Sacramento to do an interview. So cool! And I had an hour long phone interview with the Washington Post in my wet and muddy pickup. But hey, The third Mural is almost completed. Story behind the art: When the home owner sent me his original email I was not inspired by the wall or chimney. Just because of the size. I was looking for a bigger canvas to work on. So that night I prayed about it and asked God to give me something for his wall. The next morning i woke up, turned over in bed and my wife Missy was sleeping facing me. Thank you God!!!! That's it!! Quietly got my iPhone and snap! There she is. I thought it was perfect. So this mural is going to be my amazing, lovely wife! Our goal is to make a difference and bring hope to the Paradise Camp Fire victims. I’m glad I’m going be busy creating artwork because it’s going to keep me focused. We will be here through January 14-18 and I’m going to paint as much as I can! Thank you @hugheykevin and @hugheyphillipsllp for your partnership and support. We are thrilled we have @terence_duffy to photograph all week as I paint. . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #terenceduffy #hugheykevin #hugheyphillips #hugheyphillipsllp #montana94 #montanacolors94 #paradisestrong #ptown #streetartportraits #spraypaintart #paradisecampfiremurals #montanashopla #buttecountystrong #buttecountyfire

A post shared by ShaneGrammerArts (@shanegrammerarts) on

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Day 2 Paradise Camp Fire Mural Project: Day 2 Mural was for my high school friend Nicole Weddig and her husband Greg Weddig who Lost their home in the fire. As I contemplated what I wanted to paint I thought it would be amazing to paint their daughter on one of the only walls left standing. It was awesome to spend time with them and hear their stories and I’m so glad the Mural has brought joy to their family. I also want to give a big shout out to Meaghan Mackey a reporter with KRCR. Thank you for coming out and doing the interview with us. It was great to meet you and we appreciate all the work you do. Also great to see my long time friend Joel Conner. Thank you for driving up from Chico and bringing us the pop-up tent. That was perfect timing. Thanks again my friend! Our goal is to make a difference and bring hope to the Paradise Camp Fire victims. I’m glad I’m going be busy creating artwork because it’s going to keep me focused. We will be here through January 14-18 and I’m going to paint as much as I can! Thank you Kevin Hughey and Hughey Phillips LLP for your partnership and support. We are thrilled we have Terence Duffy Photographs to photograph all week as I paint. Now we’re off to the next location! . . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #terenceduffy #hugheykevin #hugheyphillips #hugheyphillipsllp #montana94 #montanacolors94 #paradisestrong #ptown #streetartportraits #spraypaintart #paradisecampfiremurals #montanashopla

A post shared by ShaneGrammerArts (@shanegrammerarts) on

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Day 4 Paradise Camp Fire Mural Project: As you can see there’s absolutely nothing left of Hope Christian Church located on Pentz Road in Paradise California. Wasn’t sure if there was anything I could paint. A lot of these locations we have visited seem that way at first but as you walk around surfaces began to appear. Both Terence and I saw the baptismal right in the middle of the destroyed church and thought, that’s it. I really wanted to paint a portrait of Jesus on a church that was burned down. I thought that would just be incredibly meaningful and powerful. Thank you Jeana Darby for reaching out and giving me permission to paint where your church used to stand. May God bless you and the whole congregation as you begin to rebuild. Our goal is to make a difference and bring hope to the Paradise Camp Fire victims. I’m glad I’m going be busy creating artwork because it’s going to keep me focused. We will be here through January 14-18 and I’m going to paint as much as I can! Thank you @hugheykevin and @hugheyphillipsllp for your partnership and support. We are thrilled we have @terence_duffy to photograph all week as I paint. . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #terenceduffy #hugheykevin #hugheyphillips #hugheyphillipsllp #montana94 #montanacolors94 #paradisestrong #ptown #streetartportraits #spraypaintart #paradisecampfiremurals #montanashopla #buttestrong #buttecountystrong

A post shared by ShaneGrammerArts (@shanegrammerarts) on

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Over the next two days I Will share two more murals that I completed. This post is the last mural that I finished this morning. Mural number 12. My beautiful wife is the champion! When I came back home from the first trip we were both blown away by the impact these murals made on people throughout paradise. She said, “Honey you have to go back.” She has held down the fort at home taking care of our family and supporting me. I couldn’t do this without her love and support! Paradise has had an impact on me personally. I will be forever changed as an artist and have been humbled by all the wonderful people I have met along the way. Because of this project in paradise I have a deep passion to continue to create artwork that speaks and moves people emotionally. I am truly grateful to God for creating me to be a creator and I am so grateful that I get to make artwork for the rest of my life. Thank you @hugheykevin and his law firm @hugheyphillipsllp . Thank you guys so much for being a huge support throughout this mural project in Paradise California. We couldn’t do it without your help and support. @terence_duffy you a friend for life! I love you work and I am so excited to share the thousands of photos you have taken throughout the mural project. My murals have told a story but your photography tells another story taking it to another level. . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #paradisestrong #hugheyphillips #terenceduffy #buttestrong #streetartglobe #montana94 #montanacolors94 #streetartportraits #streetartgallery #urbanportraits #urbanportrait #sprayplanet

A post shared by ShaneGrammerArts (@shanegrammerarts) on

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Paradise Camp Fire Mural Project Mural Entitled: Reflecting I have spent my life as an artist working and trying to create art that connects and moves people emotionally. This happened suddenly in Paradise California and it was completely unexpected. I am so humbled and honored that these murals have been an encouragement to so many people throughout Paradise but now people throughout the world. To me personally it’s been a miracle! Thank you @johndomine1 for coming up with the name (Reflecting) for this mural. @camer1sf Thank you for connecting me with John. Thank you to my beautiful wife Missy Grammer for all your love and support. You have been right there with me all along. From the beginning our goal was to make a difference and bring hope to the Paradise Camp Fire victims. Thank you @hugheykevin and @hugheyphillipsllp for your support throughout this mural project in Paradise California. We could not have done it without your help. Terence and I were never paid for this work but Hughey Phillips LLP supported us by paying for all of our expenses. @terence_duffy your a friend for life! I love your work and I am so excited to share the thousands of photos you have taken throughout the mural project. My murals have told a story but your photography tells another story taking it to another level. . . . . . . . . . #shanegrammer #shanegrammerarts #paradisestrong #hugheyphillips #terenceduffy #buttestrong #streetartglobe #montana94 #montanacolors94 #streetartportraits #streetartgallery #urbanportraits #urbanportrait #sprayplanet

A post shared by ShaneGrammerArts (@shanegrammerarts) on

The wildfire that had hit the country last year managed to abolish most of a Northern California town with a population of about 27,000 people. At least nine lives have been lost by the ‘Camp Fire’ in Paradise which was reportedly the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. It is also the deadliest wildfire in the United States since the Cloquet fire in 1918 and is high on the list of the world's deadliest wildfires; it is the sixth-deadliest U.S. wildfire overall.

18:41 IST, June 25th 2019