ACC Maple Tree Village has received a remarkable gift of an original oil painting from local artist and community supporter Linda Louie. This westward-facing landscape captures the “cool, crisp beauty of Northern California as a cloudy day sets a reflective mood along the Sacramento River.”
In Louie’s painting, the bronzy foliage of the trees lining the west bank of the river gracefully complements the swirling brushstrokes of the river, which envelop the city’s iconic landmark, The Ziggurat, a ten-story, stepped-pyramidal office building once known as The Money Store. The artist’s use of light along the riverbank creates shimmering reflections of the structure’s brutalist geometry, while the setting sun casts a warm, golden-hour glow that mirrors across the water.
This evocative piece is inspired by a photograph taken from Old Sacramento’s east bank and serves as a heartfelt tribute to ACC’s longtime friend and renowned architect, Edwin Kado. Kado, designer of The Ziggurat, described his original concept:
“I originally designed a building that cantilevered toward the river, so it was a pyramid upside down. It was twelve stories, and when you got to the top floor, it was 120 feet toward the river. The president of The Money Store thought it was interesting, but he wanted a symmetrical building. So, I suggested this shape as it connotes stability.”
The painting, gifted to ACC Maple Tree Village in Kado’s honor, celebrates his legacy as ACC’s “$1.4 million man.”
His architectural vision helped shape ACC’s many buildings including the design of Maple Tree Village itself, the renovated Park City building that now houses Meals on Wheels, several assisted living units at ACC Greenhaven Terrace, and both classrooms and offices across the ACC campus. Beyond ACC, Kado’s architectural footprint spans Sacramento, including Union Bank, the Almond Growers Visitor Center, CSU Sacramento facilities, Crossroads Shopping Center, Oto’s Marketplace, and Mahoroba Japanese Bakery.
Louie, an emerging Sacramento artist and active member of ACC’s Folk Guitar Club since 2019, originally showcased the piece during the 2025 Big Day of Giving Livestream. Her donation was made on behalf of ACC’s Music Programs and its dedicated music leaders, combining her love for art and music in a gesture of gratitude to the ACC community.
“I wanted this painting to reflect not just Sacramento’s landscape,” Louie shared, “but the creative spirit and stability that ACC and its people represent.”
The full interview with Linda Louie can be viewed on YouTube: ACC Senior Services Big Day of Giving Telethon 2025 (May 1 | 45:34).
This extraordinary gift now graces Maple Tree Village, a timeless reminder of art, architecture, and the enduring connections that make ACC a home for creativity and community.
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