Monterey County sheriff's deputies reported Wednesday that someone tried to burn down one of the 10 large paintings depicting agricultural workers that greet commuters on Monterey-Salinas Highway south of Salinas.
"The poor old guy is getting picked on," said Chris Bunn, president of Crown Packing Co. and operator of The Farm, a visitor's center where the John Cerney murals rise up from the earth.
The target of the arson was the 15-foot likeness of Robert Lyman, who worked for the Bunns for 65 years. The Bunns commissioned Cerney to paint the figure about a year before Lyman died.
Lyman's is one of the more distinguished painted figures on The Farm, recognizable by the large heads of lettuce he is holding.
Bunn said the arson occurred about midnight, but firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. Damage to the acrylic-on-plywood work was minimal, contained mostly to the bottom half.
Cerney, a Salinas artist who has gained a reputation for his larger-than-life depictions of local citizens, said Wednesday morning he was unaware of the arson.
"It was probably a couple of kids looking for something to do," Bunn said. "We haven't had too much vandalism out here."
The Farm is holding its annual "Farm Day" for children on Saturday, a free event featuring games, puppet shows and entertainment.
