Awaken Nourishing Fires is a site-specific mosaic mural intended to grace the N Pacific Avenue staircase in Santa Cruz, California. Historically called Anthony’s Flight, the staircase bridges School Street and N. Pacific Avenue and flanks the 12th California Mission. The mosaic was designed with input from Dr. Julisa Lopez of Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and members of the California firelighter community.
"You take care of the fire.
The fire takes care of the land.
The land takes care of you."
Danny Manning
Assistant Fire Chief at Greenville Rancheria
Spring 2021
Santa Cruz City Arts hosted a request for qualifications for the City Arts Recovery Design pilot program.⭐ Fully vaccinated with Moderna by February 2021.
June 2021
Twenty artists were advanced to a second stage of application. Artists had six months to develop a design plan.December 2021
Awaken Nourishing Fires was approved.2021 onward
Kathryn Mintz pursued funding for the staircase repair.March 2023
The Santa Cruz Historic Preservation Commission reviewed Awakening Nourishing Fires and granted project approval contingent upon review by the Secretary of Interior.April 2023
Fallin Steffen and Kathryn Mintz drafted a Historic Evaluation consistent with the Secretary of Interior Historic Guidelines.August 2025
The Historic Preservation Committee reconvened and granted approval of the staircase repair plan.January 2026
Chris Schneiter of Public Works was contacted to lead the staircase repair plan. Julia and Chris connected over phone to discuss how the two projects would overlap.June 2026
Cruz engaged Julia in a sponsorship agreement to fabricate the mosaic.
