Good Day Sunshine Duncanville
AKA “Good Day Sunshine Pierre Valley”
acrylic and crowd-sourced mixed media on canvas, 2008, restored in 2026
On March 9, 2008, neighbors gathered at Marth & Bros. coffee to participate in an art project. People were invited to draw a portrait of themselves in the neighborhood or write down ideas about what Pierre Valley makes them think of. "no skill is needed, and stick figures are okay." People drew their pets, pictures of themselves shopping, wrote uplifting messages, and added some more abstract images. I cut all of these pictures out and collaged them together into this urban landscape.
Pierre Valley (pronounce “pee-air-ee VAL-ee” like “No-ee”) was a name for the southern end of Church Street, perhaps better known as “Outer Noe”. In 2008 quite a few European restaurants were opening in this microhood which helped inspire the “Pierre” name. Now, patrons of Martha & Bros. Coffee refer to that spot as “Duncanville” (for Duncan Street).
After 18 years of hanging in the coffee shop (near the milk and coffee lids), the painting had somewhat lost its luster. Colors had faded (Sharpie colors are not actually permanent), the paper had yellowed, and some coffee splatters had accumulated on the surface. So I took the painting home for a week and gave it a glow up.
Visit the Church Street location Martha & Bros. Coffee to enjoy this art and a really pleasant cafe.
before restoration
after restoration
before restoration
after restoration
Good Day Sunshine was licensed for use as the cover of the text book, Sociology in Our Times, The Essentials, 7th Edition.”