The Artist Behind The Chalk Wall
Erick Toussaint is the artist behind the dynamic chalk wall at Vino Carta. Since 2022 Toussaint has created seasonal expressions of vineyard ecosystems at various stages of a vintage. They are beautifully vivid displays of terroir and wildlife. His newest version is now on display. Stop by and check it out over a bottle of wine.
"As many of you know, I have a partnership with the wine bar Vino Carta in Little Italy.
3-4 times a year I update a store-length mural. Typically we try to focus on seasonal changes in California wine country, with a focus on the intersection of agriculture and the wildlife that shares the space.
This is my update for Spring. Loosely taking us from the coast in “Mendocino" to the interior vineyards.
I always like to incorporate water, as the ocean and fresh-water cycle play such a vital role in wine country. So that is part of it obviously, but this season as we make our way in to spring, I thought I’d focus on bird-life.
Birds have an interesting relationship to viticulture. More and more, vineyards are employing birds to help with pest control. And in some cases birds are outperforming pesticides.
With that in mind, I started with a flock of western bluebirds, which are great insect eaters. They are flying over a plum tree in blossom, signaling the start of spring. A Harris-hawk then soars over fields of mustard and gobelet vines. Many vineyards, use falconry as a way to drive grape-eating birds off the fruit, and to mitigate rodent problems. The Harris Hawk points toward a pair of acorn woodpeckers, which play a vital role in sustaining the Oak Chaparral that often surrounds the interior vineyards. Finally American Kestrels are on patrol chasing off a flock of male western tanagers over a vernal pond system. It’s a compressed version of things happening in the sky right now over our grape fields.
Lastly I will say that the beginning of the mural has a portrait of (Sam’s) beloved Koa. The boxer who we all came to know and love, and who was a fixture of Vino Carta. He was just the coolest and most well behaved dog I’ve ever met. Sadly Koa died a few weeks ago, and we knew he needed to be part of the spring mural. I liked to imagine him hanging out in a field of poppies watching the waves somewhere. He is deeply missed."
Give Erick a follow online and keep an eye out for when he returns to see it live.
