LEAVENWORTH, Wash. — You see it everywhere in Leavenworth. Natural beauty, and art that reflects it.
Leavenworth's murals date back to the late '60s -- when the town transformed itself from a dying mining town to Washington's Bavaria.
Rusty and Amanda Gibbs own Gibbs Graphics -- this sign shop helps keep that trademark Leavenworth Look on point.
These two artists are also part of a new generation keeping the mural tradition alive.
"Most of our murals are narrative - so they have a story to them,” said Amanda Gibbs.
There's a lot that goes into a mural before it goes up in Leavenworth. Including a community review. The Gibbs are currently working on a mural that’s going up on the wall of a local grocery store.
One of the trademarks of a Gibbs mural is that they put their pals in the picture.
"We actually modeled it, had some friends dress up in clothing,” said Amanda, Their friends dress up in lederhosen and trachten, (Bavarian style shorts and dresses) and pose as dancers and drinkers, helping to create the festive scenes the couple paints.
Long before this couple started painting the town, Herb Schraml left his mark here. He did his first murals in 66, on the Edelweiss building. The triangular paintings are still there, and many more examples of the 82-year old’s work adorn the town.
The murals in Leavenworth strive to capture the towns unique Bavarian culture
“I never copy a photograph. I paint what's there, but my own way. If I want to move a rock or move a tree, off it goes!" said Schraml, in front of a grand mural he painted on the side of his Leavenworth home and art studio – he paints local scenery in oils and sells them out of his home studio.
These artists might have different styles -- and be different ages. But they have one thing in common; they love to see people strolling the streets of the town, enjoying their work.
"It makes me really happy when I see a lot of people stop and look,” said Herb Schraml.
“I just hope people can look at our mural, and stand back, and get something from it and connect with it in some way,” said Rusty Gibbs.
Amanda Gibbs added: "I hope they have fun with it."
Leavenworth won Best Getaway Town in 2019's Best Northwest Escapes.
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