Spring Has Sprung — And Art Will Sprout!

Viewing this email in your inbox?
Be sure to click “View Entire Message” to read full update.

Erin (second from L) honored among fellow AD 25 Women of the Year, with Aseemblymember Ash Kalra (R). From L: Christina Bui, Betsy Hammer Carr, Leena Guttal, and Dr. Hilaria Bauer. Photo by Brandon Roos.

Executive Director Erin Salazar
Among AD 25’s Women of the Year

A round of applause for our lovely Executive Director!

Erin Salazar was recently honored as one of the 2024 Women of the Year at Assembly District 25’s Women’s History Month celebration on March 22 in downtown San José.

For her continued contributions to supporting working artists and fostering community and collaboration, Erin was recognized for Leadership in the Arts. She was honored alongside Dr. Hilaria Bauer, Leena Guttal, Christina Bui, and Betsy Hammer Carr.

Thank you to Assemblymember Ash Kalra for recognizing Erin’s efforts!

Support Local Color’s mission is to build equitable pathways
for artists and creatives to thrive by becoming a donor.
Contribute to our ongoing work today!

Donate

Creekside Socials: Four Down, Four to Go

It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through our Spring season at Creekside Socials!

Since early February, we’ve been curating free workshops that spark creativity in fun ways. So far, we’ve featured:

Zen Moss Art from Charlene Alcanices (Momstera) w/ sound healing from The Aura Stream
Brush Lettering from Ben Henderson (Brush House) w/ vinyl DJing from B. Roos
Character Illustration from Mike Balingit (Liquid Brain Tattoos) w/ DJing from Die Wies
Button Making from Smooth Jazz (1-800 Tatline) w/ live music from Ren Geisick

If you’d like to catch one of these workshops before our series ends, fear not! There are still a handful of chances to join us at Creekside.

Our upcoming stamp carving workshop with Rayos Magos and Esther Young is already fully booked, but you can still RSVP for our Paint Along Workshop with Jessica Cao and Pau D’Arco on April 16.

Keep up-to-date with new workshop announcements by following us on Instagram.

Photos by Alex Knowbody.

Want to bring a fun creative workshop to your school or workplace?
Reach out to janet@localcolorsj.org.

Photos by Alex Knowbody.

Coming Soon: Color Me Rad 2024

We’re excited to announce that our youth workshop series returns this month!

Starting April 8, Color Me Rad welcomes select young creatives to take part in a five-day immersive workshop series with an established artist to better learn the craft of muraling. As part of the sessions, student artists will learn how to create their own designs and implement them across numerous forms of media. This work will culminate in an artist showcase on April 12 in our brand-new gallery space, located inside ARYA San José.

Muralist and multi-disciplinary artist Jessica Carmen is our lead artist for this workshop series, with support from Rebeca Escobedo. Jessica does wonderful work as part of The Jams. Soon, she will be leading a lively piñata making workshop at Creekside Socials on April 30. RSVP coming soon!

Know the perfect teen (ages 14-17) to take part? You’re in luck! We still have space for two more students to join us. Fill out our application by April 5.

Learn more about how Local Color is empowering the next generation of creatives by visiting our Youth Empowerment Series page.

LoCo Happenings

This Weekend

Make a Button with Us at San José Day

This weekend, we welcome the sixth annual San José Day – an event we’re proud to fiscally sponsor! Musicians, DJs, dancers, visual artists, and more converge on downtown San José for a celebration of all that makes the city beautiful and vibrant. This FREE event takes place from 12-6pm at Empire Seven Studios. Performers this year include Barely Funktional, Oddity, Thatfool Al, Flipside Lovers, and more. Live painting from Together We Create, The Jams, and Manik. We’ll be on site showing folx how to make their own collaged buttons. Stop by and take home your own unique piece of San José pride!

Final Free Mural Day at NUMU

Watch Wisper continue to make progress on his mural for “Paint the Town '' this weekend inside New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU). Wisper’s final live paint day is April 7, which also happens to be a First Free Sunday! RSVP in advance to attend at no charge. While on site, view Buggsy Malone’s photography, which documents Wisper creating his mural “Freedom” inside La Esquina in East San José.
(Photo: @newmuseumlosgatos on Instagram)

Women’s History Month

Button Making at Google
Experience Center

Local Color had the opportunity to participate in two separate public activations in honor of Women’s History Day. What better activity to share than one that’s “90% more fun than you think it will be”? Our Creative Experiences team hauled our industrial-strength button presses to the new Google Experience Center to help others honor the great contributions of women. Thank you to Google for the chance to lend a creative spark to the space, and Elba Raquel and Anthony Combs for leading the button making! (Photo courtesy of Elba Raquel)

Women’s Heritage Day at History Park

On March 9, we popped up inside picturesque History Park to honor female empowerment as part of Women’s Heritage Day! The event featured a women-owned lowrider exhibition, cultural performances, a poetry lounge, and a button making activity from us! It was a fun afternoon of creativity and community. (Photo: Alex Knowbody)

Creative Recaps

AJNA Natural Dyeing Workshop

On March 23, AJNA hosted a natural dyeing workshop inside Local Color’s Digital Underground space (DUG). Participants were led through a process of creating one-of-a-kind patterns using bundle dying. AJNA’s focus is on creating conscious, mindfully handcrafted textiles. (Photo courtesy of AJNA)

EMLN Open House & Creative Workshop

Artist in Residence member Early Mornings Late Nights (EMLN) hosted a creative networking event last Friday inside DUG. EMLN opened their creative studio to others for the chance to create content and meet others with a passion for creative content. EMLN is a creative agency committed to a mission to redefine the landscape of creativity and culture.

Interested in our creative workspaces, or want to host your next group event at Local Color? Contact hello@localcolorsj.org for more info.

Greetings From Grantland

Submit Your Nomination For Cornerstone of the Arts

Do you know a leader or organization that has impacted San José’s cultural life? If so, nominate them for this year’s Cornerstone of the Arts Awards! Inaugurated in September 2013, the Cornerstone of the Arts Award honors individuals who have had a significant and long lasting impact on San José’s art and cultural landscape. Submit your nomination(s) by May 3. Click here to learn more.

Cali Catalyst Grant:
Unrestricted Funds Up to $7,500

CALI Catalyst provides unrestricted grants of up to $7,500 to California changemakers who are creating tangible impact within the arts and culture sector, shifting power and influence to historically underrepresented voices. Round one of applications will be accepted thru May 6 (Apply here). Learn more by registering for an upcoming information session and Q&A on April 3.

Community Opportunities

Share Your Creativity With #WeCreate408

As part of Arts, Culture, and Creativity Month in April, the San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs is challenging San Joséans to use their powers of creative expression every day for the month. Celebrate art’s impact on your life by sharing your creativity through #WeCreate408. Join the email list to receive a new prompt in your inbox every day in April, or follow @sjculture on social media. Creative partners will select their favorite responses to daily prompts to receive special giveaways and discounts.

Sheng Lor Artist Talk at SJSU

SoFA Pocket Park muralist Sheng Lor is back in San Jose for a free lecture at SJSU on April 8! Sheng is a California-based visual and textile artist born in a refugee camp in Thailand and raised in Stockton, CA. Her work — being deeply rooted in her personal history with textiles and experience as a Hmong shamanist — explores both cloth and the refugee memory as sites of knowledge. Learn more.

Marigold Scholarship Fund, Co-Created by Local Commons Member Mr. Fuchila

Having experienced the challenges of navigating academia as first-generation college graduates, Rubén Dario (AKA Mr. Fuchila) and Veronica Villa encountered numerous hurdles, notably a lack of financial backing for pursuits beyond STEM fields. While acknowledging the value of careers in STEM, particularly in Silicon Valley, the Villas aspire to champion and recognize the significance of arts and education by offering scholarships to those students brave enough to pursue their passions. Click here to learn more or donate.

Keep up with all things Local Color
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Help us build equitable pathways
for artists and creatives to thrive!