Awards & Grants

Colfax Mural Mock-up

Colfax Shadow Murals

Jim Bowers and Foxey McCleary received $500 in donations from the foundation and its board members to help fund their shadow murals in downtown Colfax’ public spaces.

In 2018, the GHF provided $300 to restore the Glee mural at the Sierra Vista Community Center which had sustained rust damage.  Funding was also authorized to provide flashing to prevent further rust damage.

Jim is a multi-media artist and photographer and has shown a series of his Burning Man photographs in a prestigious New York gallery. He is known for his Burning Man creations including a 1,247 foot-long burning dragon. The 2011 Burning Man Festival contained his most unique creation to date: Jim headed a 60 person “dream team” of laser technology scientists, artists and construction workers to create the world’s largest working clock. The clock was constructed in Colfax and Colfax’ first Fire & Steel Festival was held to raise funds for its creation.

Foxey McCleary’s family has lived in Colfax since its pioneer days but Foxey was born in Wuhan, China.  She has a master of arts degree from California State University at Sacramento and has taught art at City College of Chicago, Colfax Elementary School and Studio 700.

To learn more about Colfax’s Historic Murals, go here.

Shadows Art Guide

In 2016, the  foundation donated $336.48 towards the initial publication of a guide to the Shadow Art murals.  The guides turned out to be popular and to ensure enough were available for distribution at the Colfax Garden Club tour, in 2017 the foundation donated $464.39 for a reprinting.

Colfax Art Walk

In 2016, the Foundation donated $265.83 to complete the funding needed for Colfax Art Walk’s sidewalk sign boards.  The City of Colfax provided the initial $500 funding.

Sierra Vista Community Center Pavilion Sculpture

In 2017, the Foundation donated $1,000 towards a sculptural arch by metalworks artist Kelly Quinn.

In 2020, the Foundation donated $200 towards a camera surveillance system for the Sierra Vista Community Center.

Bowers/Keck Photography Collection

In 2020, the Foundation granted the Colfax Area Historical Society $500 towards the purchase of the Bowers/Keck Photography Collection.

In 2020, the Foundation provided a $250 grant for purchasing locally made facemasks for the annual Memorial Day observance at the Colfax  cemetery.

Gertrude Paul Memorial

Gertrude Paul was instrumental in founding the Colfax Historical Society and the Colfax Historical Museum.  in 2018, the foundation provided matching funds with the Colfax Garden Club and the Red Hat Society towards the creation of a memorial tribute to her.

Cape Horn Plaque

At the board’s 2018 annual meeting, Roger Staab of the Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society requested funding to create a new Cape Horn Plaque. He wanted to acknowledge the tremendous fact-based contribution by Chinese workers to railroad construction without the need for embellished “stories” about their accomplishments such as “bosun or basket hanging” that is currently on the plaque.  Roger’s position paper to the Colfax Area Historical Society noted that in 1865 the Chief Engineer lauded the work ethic of the Chinese workers involved in the railway construction, stating that the hiring of Chinese workers “has proved eminently successful. They are faithful and industrious, and under proper supervision, soon become skillful in the performance of their duties” but Roger has found no documentation anywhere regarding bosun hanging. The new plaque will also correct a prominent typo.

Artist Commissions

The following artists were awarded commissions.

1880 Hubley House
Artist: Steve Coverston

Steve Coverston

Steve Coverston was awarded our first Colfax Artist commission: a graphite au plein air drawing of the Hubley House and landscape. Steve is a talented illustrator who has taught drawing to a generation of local area residents.

In 2002, Steve Coverston received the Governor’s Historic Preservation Award at the State Capitol by Governor Davis for the calendar he and his students have created over the years. He was chair of the Fine Art Dept. at Colfax High School.

Helen Wayland, Colfax Museum Director, says “Steve Coverston is the exceptional teacher who touches lives, opens the world to students and their family. He is one you remember, one who gives beyond the class room and one who put Colfax on the map, when the class received the governor’s award for historic preservation.”

An artist reception and unveiling of this award project was held. The drawing has been on loan to the Placer Arts “Educated Arts” exhibition and is currently on display at the Colfax Area Heritage Museum.

Marlene Betts

Marlene Betts was awarded the second Colfax Artist commission. Marlene has been painting landscapes for many years. “But I’ve always doodled and drawn,” she said. While she prefers working with oils she also enjoys working with watercolor and acrylics. She previously owned the Martins Gallery in Colfax.

Charlie Iveson

Charlie Iveson was commissioned to do a landscape painting. Trained in oil and drawing, Charlie now does watercolor paintings in an impressionistic style. A fulltime artist, she exhibits during the Colfax and Auburn Art Walks.

Photo credit:  Pamela Schreckengost