Litchfield Park artist brings 1940s to life during HeART of Goodyear project

By Kelly O’Sullivan
Twitter: @AzNewsmedia

Esther BeLer Wodrich usually doesn’t get into character when she paints, but she made an exception for Rosie the Riveter, the iconic 1940s figure representing women who worked in the defense industry during World War II.

At Loma Linda Park, one of 10 sites where artists tapped by the Arts & Culture Commission to paint the city’s history on large fiberglass hearts for Goodyear’s 75th anniversary, Ms. Wodrich spent her days decked out in Rosie’s familiar red and white polka dot bandana and denim work shirt.

She planned to put finishing touches on the mural and varnish the heart Nov. 24. To see time-lapse videos of Ms. Wodrich working, visit her Facebook page, facebook.com/estherbeler.

Just as she did in the 1940s when women stepped into roles they’d never held before to keep America running as their fathers, brothers, cousins and friends deployed to the European and Pacific theaters, Rosie inspires those who see her image on Ms. Wodrich’s mural.

“I’ve had several people stop by and say how encouraged they are seeing this (during the pandemic),” Ms. Wodrich said Nov. 23 as she worked. “One woman told me, ‘I love this image of a strong woman helping us get through this difficult time.'”

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Ms. Wodrich, who lives in Litchfield Park, researched Goodyear history when the city put out a call for artists to paint decades from the 1940s to 2020 and the future. Three Rivers Historical Society books lent to her by a friend provided the inspiration Ms. Wodrich needed to choose a decade.

“The 1940s stood out the most,” she said. “There’s just so much history in that time. I was really inspired by the war posters, and how Goodyear was involved (in the WWII war effort).”

Home-grown Rosie the Riveters spent the war years here hard at work at Goodyear Aircraft, a subsidiary of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., doing their part for the war effort by helping manufacture flight decks for the U.S. Navy, among other things.

To honor those women, Ms. Wodrich’s mural features Rosie front and center with aircraft flying overhead in a bright blue sky and the words, “We Can Do It!”

The back of the heart pays homage to those who helped local farms stay afloat when the young men who worked them left to join the military.

It features a cotton field under that same bright blue sky, and the words, “Lend a Hand on the Land,” from a poster. In addition to local residents, Prisoners of War worked Goodyear fields during the war.

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Ms. Wodrich, who grew up in Virginia, moved to the Valley when she was 21, attending Glendale Community College before transferring to the Art Institute of Chicago.

“I always wanted to be an artist,” she said.

She has lived in Litchfield Park for 17 years, where she and her husband are raising four children ages 9 to 15.

She is one of several artists who painted murals now adding color to traffic cabinets throughout Goodyear.

While her primary medium is watercolor, Ms. Wodrich said was she excited to participate in the HeART of Goodyear project not only for the history, but to step outside her comfort zone by tackling a 5- by 6-foot heart with acrylics.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” she said.

To see a list of the other HeART of Goodyear artists and their mural sites, click here.

Kelly O’Sullivan can be reached at kosullivan@newszap.com or 760-963-1697.