Summer Campbell-Kern Valley Sun

Where can you visit the beach, the mountains, and the desert all at the same time? The residents at the Skilled Nursing Center in Mt. Mesa have the opportunity to visit all three of these locations everyday. Just one month ago Valley resident Judy Deems started transporting the residents of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) to many beautiful locations all over the world. While Deems doesn't actually load up the residents and physically transport them, she does help them to travel through the many picturesque murals that she has created through out the walls at the SNF. Deems is a painter that is known for her wonderful mural creations. She was approached by Celia Juni, a SNF worker, and Jeanette Rogers to create the some 14 plus murals. Juni funded a portion of the murals with the money she raised running for honorary Whiskey Flat mayor this past year. Although Juni didn't win the position of Whiskey Flat mayor, see did manage to raise a fairly large sum of money all of which has been donated to various charities. Juni chose to spend a portion of the money she raised to spruce up the Skilled Nursing Facility. Juni had previously encountered Deems when Deems used to paint Christmas scenes on the SNF's windows. While the funding for the murals was slim, Deems has not let that keep her from painting her best. "When you put your name on something, you want it to look good," said Deems. Deems has had a significant amount of experience painting murals similar to the paintings that she is currently creating in the SNF. Deems painted murals in the trauma center at Kern Medical Center and has also created several murals in homes around the Valley. Deems said that she began painting at a young age, by creating art for family members. She took art classes in high school and then at Bakersfield College, but has learned most of her technique from years of experience. "I have loved painting since I was a little kid," commented Deems. Deems began creating the first of the murals nearly four weeks ago, and in less than a month has managed to create some 12 spectacular paintings. Deems was given three themes for the creation of the murals; the desert, the beach, and the woods. Other than the themes Deems creativity has led the way for the details in each of the fine crafted artworks. Deems has used calendars, postcards and photpgraphs as inspiration for each of the murals. She transformed one hall way in the SNF into a beach by creating four murals depicting various beach scenes. The residents seem to enjoy the beach scene that displays two white rocking chairs that are resting on a balcony over looking the ocean. The residents say that they feel as though they can put themselves in the scene. One of the SNF workers commented that a specific hallway in the nursing facility was too cold, so Deems painted a beach mural that featured a warm sun that beams down over the ocean waters. In addition to the beach themed hallway Deems transformed yet another hallway of the SNF into a desert oasis. Since the Kern River is considered a high desert location two of the desert murals feature local locations explained Deems. One mural Deems painted from a picture of Riverside Park in Kernville, while another features scenery of the desert lands one encounters when traveling to Ridgecrest. Many of the SNF residents recognize that the murals are of local locations and they appreciate being able to visit the beautiful places that surround our Valley. Deems personally favors the mural she painted of the Sedona desert in Arizona. Deems is currently finishing up the hallway that features her mountain creations. Another resident favorite is Deems' mountain mural of a river and forest scene with two deer. The deer are so well painted that it seems as though they are looking right out of the picture, "the residents come up to the deer and talk to them," said Deems. While Deems has transformed the SNF into three very different scenic locations, she has managed to maintain a cohesive follow by creating a mural that features both the forest and the beach to serve as a transition between the two locations. Deems has only been working at the SNF for a month now spending roughly five hour days painting and yet she has created a new world for the SNF residents. Once Deems has completed the mountain murals she will start work on decorating a bulletin board in the SNF recreation room, and possibly a few other walls throughout the hospital. "I don't know how long I will be here," commented Deems. The residents as well as the staff at the SNF have been extremely grateful for the atmosphere change that Deems has created with her many murals. " It is all really rewarding when you meet the residents," said Deems. For those Valley residents that want to take a vaction to the beach, and the desert, but don't want to leave the mountains, consider visiting the Kern Valley Hospital's Skilled Nursing Center.