ow can lackluster rows of flat, windowless storage buildings become a benefit to communities? It turns out, they are a perfect medium for public art installations. Security Public Storage (SPS), owned by San Francisco-based Baco Properties, has seized the opportunity in 14 locations, creating vibrant, large-scale murals that commemorate each community’s history and identity.
“The purpose of our murals is to beautify the community through public art displays,” says Sharon Thornburg, director of marketing for Baco Properties, “to give back to the community and to celebrate their contributions.” She says Ben Eisler, the company’s founder, and his son, Michael Eisler, who is president, are dedicated to every community in which they operate. Although SPS properties span from coast to coast, she says they are always a local business.
Although the colorful murals add visibility to these facilities, Thornburg says that’s that not the motivation. “The murals are a big investment, but we are investing in the city and our longevity there,” she says. Of the 53 properties SPS has built or purchased over the past 40 years, none have ever been sold. “When our owners purchase a facility, it’s really forever,” Thornburg says. “When we go into a community, we are there to stay. We become a fixture in the community, and we build relationships.”
SPS typically commissions two murals each year. They’ve completed at least one new mural installation every year since 2016, the largest comprising over 4,000 square feet. Most are installed at existing facilities, but offering this benefit to the community can help SPS get approval for new projects as well.
“When we’re talking to cities about building or converting a property into storage, it can help,” Thornburg says. “With our next one coming up in El Cerrito, public art was part of the plan. We knew the community had an arts council and that they were attracted to public art. We thought it would make our proposal more enticing since we were going to bring in a mural.”
However, in locations where the buildings aren’t that visible, it doesn’t make sense to create a mural where few people will see it. “The owners feel very strongly that the murals are a gift to the city, to help beautify the city,” Thornburg says. Communities have always welcomed the art installations. “We haven’t proposed a mural and had it stricken down by any type of agency or local government.”
Paul Anderson, local marketing manager for SPS, says the murals often get considerable news coverage and local dignitaries attend their dedication events. “The biggest press coverage was our Fruitridge Road and MLK Boulevard location in Sacramento,” he says. “We had huge support from the community. The mayor, city council members, and local business leaders came out.” All four local news channels covered the creation and dedication of the murals.
SPS chooses the themes for each mural through collaboration with the community. “We reach out to city hall, historical organizations, and service clubs,” Anderson says. “We look for various landmarks or what the city is known for. We are a community company even though we’re nationwide.”
The latest mural was created for the Woodland facility in Modesto. Calif., and celebrates the city’s treasured icons and industries. Five individual displays span 2,300 square feet of wall space. The American Graffiti Festival wall highlights Modesto’s connection to the movie “American Graffiti,” which was filmed there. Anderson says that George Lucas, who directed the iconic film, is from Modesto and was inspired by his teenage years there. The other murals commemorate the local baseball team, E&J Gallo Winery, and almond production, showcasing the beauty of local orchards and importance of the almond industry to the region.
Ragg also created “Manteca Treasures” in 2023. The large-scale installation in Manteca, Calif., measures 330 feet long, covering nearly 3,300 square feet. During its creation, hundreds of local residents honked, waved, or stopped by to share their appreciation with the artist. The mural celebrates the area’s colorful heritage, including its designation as the “Gateway to Yosemite.” Other mural panels highlight farming, rafting, a state park, and the 1870 Southern Pacific Railroad.
Security Public Storage chooses themes for the murals based on what’s important to the local community. SPS Sacramento Fruitridge Road, which intersects with MLK Boulevard, highlights social justice with a mural featuring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Dolores Huerta, and Cesar Chavez. “We worked closely with the Black Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to decide who to feature,” Thornburg says. “It was a community effort.”
A second mural was added to the SPS Salinas location in 2019, celebrating the area’s rich history and heritage from John Steinbeck and Mexican settlers to its ideal climate and produce production. The ribbon-cutting caught local attention and was covered by two local TV news stations and front-page coverage in the local paper.
The mural spans the entire south face of the SPS facility, making it the largest in the Salinas area and clearly visible from Highway 101. It depicts the history of the area’s people and industries from the first residents, the Ohlone people, through the arrival of the Spanish in the 1700s, and today’s vibrant Hispanic culture. The mural reflects Salinas during the Depression through the eyes of John Steinbeck’s novels. The unveiling was attended by officials from the City of Salinas, the Steinbeck Center, and several local and regional arts commissions.
The murals the company commissions unite community members and reinforce SPS’s sense of being a local business. Thornburg says more murals are in the works for 2024, and SPS intends to continue its involvement in public art.