Posted by Chamber Day 2005 on April 09, 2005 at 13:27:32:
In Reply to: Chamber Day Updates posted by Chamber Day Committee on April 09, 2005 at 13:25:29:
We’ve gotten great comments all around on the log this year. Chamber Day has embraced the history of Catalina Tile this year. Our 6-tile scene (designed by local artist and diver Ken Niles) depicts a diver ascending through the kelp while a Garibaldi, Sheephead, and Black Sea Bass hover nearby, and a dive boat awaits on the surface with Catalina in the background. The Chamber is represented in abstract by the corner tiles.
Catalina Tile was unique to Catalina Island, manufactured on the island from the late 1920s to mid-1930s. William Wrigley established a ceramics plant at Pebbly Beach, just south of Avalon. The plant created tens of thousands of items (tiles and pottery) from the unique red clay endemic to the island. The tiles produced were noted for their striking designs and colors, unique from other styles of California tiles, and can still be seen in many places on Catalina, including storefronts and buildings in Avalon, the Wrigley Memorial, and the Airport-In-The-Sky.
During their heyday, Catalina Island tiles and pottery were known worldwide. Eventually, demand for the tiles slowed, and the factory shut down in the late 1930's. Today, original Catalina tiles are highly sought after, with some individual tiles and sets fetching thousands of dollars.
Our tile logo is available for sale this year in a variety of formats. The Chamber corner will be available as a 4x4” tile ($15 donation) that will make a great coaster. The Dive Boat upper left panel will be available as a 6x6” tile ($25 donation) that’s suitable for use as a trivet or hot plate. And for a donation of $500 (we‘ve already sold 10), you will receive a limited edition of the entire 6-tile scene complete with border and Chamber corner tiles mounted and suitable for hanging (roughly 22”x30”). Any of these can be ordered through our secure website (www.chamberday.org). Please allow 4-6 weeks after the event for delivery.
We hope you’ll be as excited about this year’s logo as we are. Not only is it a great way to tie the history of the Chamber to the history of Catalina, but it’s also another great way for us to raise some money for our Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber.