Waiting for a bus is boring business, and bus stops certainly can’t be described as aesthetically pleasing. But one bus stop in Marin — the Transit Hub in San Anselmo on Center Blvd — recently got a big boost of colorful personality in its concrete seating area, thanks to a larger public art initiative driven by the San Anselmo Arts Commission.
After putting out a call for artists, the commission selected two artists from 32 submissions for the bus seat beautification project. The chosen duo just happened to be a father-son team with deep local ties: John Hersey, a professional artist and designer from San Anselmo, and his son Wyatt Hersey, who specializes in mural work.
The younger Hersey, who grew up in San Anselmo but now resides in Santa Cruz, first collaborated with his father on design plans from afar. “We sent the design back and forth, editing, adding and tweaking colors until we had something that felt lively and fun which spoke to the Town of San Anselmo and offered a feeling of welcoming to the space,” he said.
The winning design centered on giving the benches a playful, folklorish ambience by weaving together visuals of icons and symbols reflective of the town, including views of Mt. Tam, the barn owls found at town hall, Sugarfoot the Deer and the Yoda statue from Imagination Park. Over several days in May 2024, the father-son duo completed their work as curious passersby stopped to observe.
“Our goal was to create a painting that would draw in the eye and brighten the space, but also tell a story about the Town of San Anselmo and the surrounding environment that makes it such a special place,” said Hersey. “I think we achieved that.”
