13,000 Square Feet of Transformation

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Volunteers of all ages add a vibrant strip of Tangelo to “Threads Woven” by Jimmy Paints. Photo by Alex Knowbody.

Together, We Transformed San José!

Jimmy Paints (center) poses with volunteer artists from Adobe. Photo by Alex Knowbody.

With 1,250 sign-ups and hundreds of volunteers helping to paint San Pedro Street, we were able to turn a patch of asphalt into a 13,000-square-foot mural. “Threads Woven” by Jimmy Paints is now a reality.

Mayor Matt Mahan and Councilmember Omar Torres both lent a hand. So did local businesses, friends, and families! And the effort made quite the splash, earning headlines from KTVU, CBS Bay Area, The Mercury News, and NBC Bay Area!

Even more important was the fabulous feedback we received from those kind enough to donate their time to this project. “I was proud to be a part of San Jose’s community, but now I feel like I have ownership of it,” shared one volunteer with KRON4.

From L to R: Kiara Arreola, Chief of Staff for Councilmember Omar Torres, rolls down paint after the Mayor’s press conference (Photo by Alex Knowbody); Executive Director Erin Salazar, SJDA CEO Alex Stettinski, Mayor Matt Mahan and Adobe VP of Digital Imaging Maria Yap (Photo by Alex Knowbody); Councilmember Omar Torres adding a new layer to “Threads Woven” (Photo by Brandon Roos)

In fact, we had so much support that we finished early! A total of 503 volunteers helped us over three full days of painting, with final touches handled by Jimmy Paints and his assistant artists on Thursday and Friday.

Thank you to the San Jose Downtown Association and Adobe for inviting Local Color to collaborate on such a monumental project! Through these efforts, we’ve been able to show how art can transform the City of San José and bring communities together. Additional thanks to the many local businesses in the San Pedro Square area that supported our efforts, to the assistant artists who helped prepare and detail this mural, and to Jimmy Paints for conceptualizing a great design!

Final thanks to our Executive Director Erin Salazar and our Creative Services and Public Art Program Manager Jessica Punzalan for spending tireless hours in the sun to lead volunteers through orientations, assign painting spaces, and spearhead this absolute beast of a project!

A glimpse of the completed mural design from the San Pedro Square parking garage (Photo by Brandon Roos); Above (L - R): Executive Director Erin Salazar and Creative Services and Public Art Program Manager Jessica Punzalan walking volunteers through their on-site orientation. (L photo by Curtis Ying; R photo by Brandon Roos)

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Future Interest

Flyer by Wednesday DeGuzman

Join Our Team!

We’re seeking a collaborative, adaptable, and empathetic individual to join our team as Local Commons Project Associate. The position will assist the organization’s fiscal sponsorship initiatives through quality assurance measures, operational and program processes, and office support.

Prior work in nonprofit administration — particularly fiscal sponsorship or project management — is preferred. Attention to detail is a must!

Application closes at 5pm on Friday, June 21. Click here to learn more about the role, and apply below!

Apply

Flyer by Janet Appleton

Join the Color Me Rad Summer Cohort

Do you know a Young Artist that’s ready to unleash their creativity? Color Me Rad, part of Local Color’s Youth Empowerment Series, is the perfect place for emerging creatives to gain hands-on experience!

Miguel Ozuna of SJ Shooters and Jessica Carmen of The Jams lead our two series on photography and mural painting, respectively.

Color Me Rad’s Spring cohort adding detail to their group mural. Photo by Alex Knowbody.

Color Me Rad is FREE and open to Youth Artists ages 14-17. Participants will even receive a financial stipend for completing the program and exhibiting their work! The program runs July 8-18 inside Local Color’s new space, Noble Workshop & Gallery.

Applications are due by 5pm on Friday, June 15.

Apply

Color Me Rad is supported in part by the California Arts Council, the City of San José’s District 5 Council’s Office, and SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the Sares Regis Foundation.

LoCo Happenings

Student Mural at August Boeger Middle

Local Color worked alongside Ms. Gonzalez, Ms. Smith, and roughly 40 sixth and eighth graders from August Boeger Middle School to bring a mural to life! After brainstorming a mural concept, students selected a design submitted by artist Jessica Cao. As part of this project, students learned about public art, shared feedback for the final design, and assisted Jessica with painting the mural. The project was officially unveiled to the school earlier this month!

Community Mural at Berryessa Art Festival

With support from Applied Materials, we popped up at the Berryessa Art Festival with our color cube! After taping over his design, local artist Eric Bui invited fest attendees to add their contribution to the canvas. Near the end of the fest, Eric peeled back the tape to re-integrate his design. Thank you Eric for encouraging people of all ages to add their creative mark!

Button Making in St. James Park

At last Sunday’s free concert series featuring Lyrics Born and the Aquanauts, Local Color popped up in St. James Park with a free button-making activity. We also had a chance to share about our organization and mission with the entire audience! Thank you to Levitt Pavillion San Jose for the chance to create community impact. Their series continues on Sunday with performances by The Jack Moves and Conjunto Trujillo.

Chalk Art Mural at Solidarity Summit

In collaboration with Sacred Heart Community Service and SURJ, Local Color facilitated a chalk art mural in the SoFA district as part of Family Art Day and the Solidarity Summit. We provided chalk pastels, knee pads, and a great creative environment! Artists Betty Proper, Aliks Mahn, Alondra Paco, Alex Dimas, Lizzy, Andrew Sumner, and Leti were all selected to design a specific letter, and the public was invited to fill in the remaining letters. Once completed, the mural read “COMMUNITY UNITED.”

Greetings From Grantland

Less Than One Week Left For Creative Economy Fund

$40,000 is available for arts, cultural, and creative-based commercial businesses in San José. Projects that contribute to San José’s cultural vibrancy, show evidence or “signs of readiness,” grow and achieve the business’ financial resilience and demonstrate an economic impact in the City of San José can receive grants of up to $8,000! Click here to learn more. Apply by June 17.

Alternative Exposure Grant for Artist-Run Projects

Alternative Exposure grants directly fund visual arts projects that provide frameworks of support for artists to create and continue their work. Grants support projects that present the work of more than one artist and can support the creation and/or presentation of work. Both individuals and groups are eligible to apply on behalf of a project; 501c3 non-profit entities are not eligible to apply. If applying as a group, the artistic group or venue can be either long-standing or formed specifically for this opportunity. Access the application here. Applications due by August 12.

Office of Cultural Affairs Presents: SJ Places

SJ Places (Public Life and Community Event Spaces) is a pilot program that removes all permitting costs for organizers of small-scale outdoor events at select locations in San José. Events must be free and open to the public, and can include up to 500 event attendees. Click here to apply. This pilot program runs through the end of October.

Local Commons

This Weekend: The Rendezvous Car Festival

Hosted by the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds and curated by Bay Area Flicks and Local Commons member EMLN, Saturday’s event, happening from 12-6pm, merges automotive passion with community celebration. Enjoy local vendors, food trucks, and live performances from Bay Area rappers Lysn, Stunnaman02, San Quinn, and Show Banga! Grab your tickets here. (Image: @therendezvoussj on Instagram)

“Copacabana” Reaches Fundraising Goal!

Local Commons member Lorena Cortez surpassed her $30,000 fundraising goal for her upcoming short firm, “Copacabana,” this past weekend! Lorena’s production, 90% women-led, is challenging the norms of an often male-dominated film industry.

Does the project sound like something you’d love to be a part of? Copacabana’s campaign is still live! Contribute here. (Image: “Cobacabana” sticker designed by @samuhwell)

La Ofrenda Festival Returns November 2

After its inaugural cultural and wellness event in Gilroy last year, La Ofrenda Festival returns this November! Led by Ruben Villa, also known as Mr. Fuchila, La Ofrenda honors, celebrates, and preserves Indigenous traditions, and aims to bridge the gap between arts, culture, and wellness with its multi-generational celebration.

Learn more about this wildly successful celebration of Dia de Los Muertos by checking out their brand-new website. You can also donate directly to the fest. (Image: @la.ofrenda.festival on Instagram)

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