A new series of murals by Sacramento artist John Horton has been completed in Greenback Square, across from Sunrise Mall, on walls surrounding the open patio seating area between TOGO’s Sandwiches and the Royal Indian Cuisine restaurant in the center of the plaza. Photo courtesy of Sunrise MarketPlace

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Sunrise MarketPlace continues to receive a bright splash of color with the recent completion of a new series of murals by Sacramento artist John Horton in Greenback Square, across from Sunrise Mall, on walls surrounding the open patio seating area between a TOGO’s Sandwiches and Royal Indian Cuisine in the center of the plaza.

Kathilynn Carpenter, executive director of Sunrise MarketPlace District said she was delighted to see what Horton had created, and she looks to the completion of additional mural projects underway in the District.

“Our goal continues to bring public art to the Sunrise MarketPlace District,” Carpenter said. “We’re excited to do so.”

The public is invited to learn more about the individual murals in the District, and the background of each artist who created them on the weblink, “Murals in the MarketPlace at sunrisemarketplace.com/art/murals/artwork/”, Carpenter said.

In all, there are currently eight murals from seven different artists completed throughout the District. Each work of art was custom designed and painted by the participating artist.

A recent mural painted by Tulare-based muralist Jacob Lewis wraps around the entrance to the Sunrise Village Shopping Center from Uplands Way in Citrus Heights.

Lewis recently completed a final portion of the mural which leads towards the entrance of the Milano Nail Salon which will open in the plaza in the near future.

Lewis is also working on the design of a new “Route 66” themed mural which is planned for a side wall at Batteries Plus retail store at 8025 Greenback Lane in Greenback Square across from Quick Quack Car Wash, said Carpenter. She recently met with Lewis and is looking forward to seeing his design proposal.

Another mural, visible from Sunrise Boulevard, by artist Brandon Alxander, was painted earlier this summer on an exterior wall of the Pet Food Express store facing Sunrise Boulevard

Owners of the new Purpose-Built trade clothing store that just opened at 6425 Sunrise Boulevard completed a large mural of their own on an exterior wall prior to opening which faces a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant.

A second mural is also planned for an adjacent wall by the store’s front entrance, said Chris Delso, its general manager. Delso and Carpenter have been in talks concerning the planning of that future mural which Sunrise MarketPlace may help fund, she said.

Besides the substantial number of mural projects in the District, which can be seen at sunrisemarketplace.com/art/, there’s also a special collection of “Masterpieces in the Marketplace” which has also caught the public’s eye, Carpenter said.

The District has transformed its utility service boxes into art-wrapped showcases with works by prominent world renowned artists.

A variety of iconic works showcase 19th century, Japanese woodblock, impressionism, abstract and local contemporary art. The project includes artists such as Van Gogh, Degas, Renoir and many more. Utilizing SMUD’s Transformer Box Wrap Program to enhance the aesthetic environment and deter graffiti, Sunrise MarketPlace was the first to develop a themed art installation of this scale, Carpenter said.