Petaluma Water Tank - Cladding Wall Piece

This piece is crafted from two 12-foot lengths of old-growth redwood, once used as cladding for Petaluma’s historic water tanks. Each board measures 1.5” thick by 8” wide—dimensions chosen to shield the tank and keep the water cool.
 

For decades, tanks like these stood across Sonoma County, serving millions of people. In the 1950s, they were coated in lead-based paint, and eventually dismantled for safety. These boards were salvaged, and rather than altering them, I chose to preserve their story: framing them simply in black pine and letting them speak for themselves.

The surface carries a painterly palette—faded yellows and oranges blending into soft greys and blues. Rusted lines left by the steel tank bands run vertically now, adding yet another layer of history. Look closely, and the colors suggest the impression of a vast lagoon, a landscape imagined in weather and time.

The piece weighs 31 pounds and transports easily. It is one of a kind—you will not find another wall piece like this anywhere else.