Tapestry of Dreams

The civic artwork at Fire Station 71 is a large tile mural on the building’s façade that references Malibu’s natural landscape and historic connection to artisan tile production. Tapestry of Dreams was inspired by the tile Persian rug located in the foyer of the nearby Adamson House and made by Malibu Potteries, the local factory that produced decorative tiles that can be found in Los Angeles architecture of the 1920s.

The mural can be read from left to right. It begins with an abstract carpet pattern that evolves into a lush, stylized depiction of the sky, mountains and ocean. Blue, purple, yellow, orange and green are carried throughout the artwork to create a sense of continuity as the scene in the carpet changes.

Each porcelain clay tile was hand sculpted, fired, painted and glazed by Doolin at his studio in Topanga Canyon, a process which took nearly nine months and yielded over 2,000 individual tiles. The tiles were then transported to the site, where Doolin systematically laid them out and set them to the building’s stucco. The artwork was finished with colored grout. Its scale and vibrant colors make it visible to passing motorists on Pacific Coast Highway. Intricate details and depictions of Malibu landmarks nestled in the landscape reveal a more personal story to those viewing the mural up close.