Guadalupe River Art Walk
2021: Year Five
Last October 2020, we partnered with the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy to bring the “Guadalupe River Art Walk” for a series of Artist-in-Residencies to bring art that fosters community resiliency, attracts park users, and sparks inspiration and social healing. In light of COVID-19, our project’s scope adapted to the current public health and social distancing concerns, and is encouraging park use and exploration over an extended amount of time as our AIR program will take place this year. We are now in 2021 and as we continue with our AIR Program, we have hopes that we will be able to gather again for a week long festival later this year.
The long term goal is to create San Jose’s first longest public art corridor that will encourage long-term trail and park usage which will provide activities that promote health and wellness, both physically and mentally, are of increased need in urban areas, and especially in our current global situation.
For more info on supporting the “Bay Area’s Longest Public Art Corridor”, visit HERE
“This Is The Way”
“The world was covered with water, one day a feather was floating on the water and it was transformed into eagle, eagle was chief, later he would join coyote and a powerful companion of hummingbird. This is why Mount Umunum is important to our people it is along with the other mountaintops that became the first areas of dry land before people came into this world.” -Charlene Nijmeh, ChairWoman, Muwekma Ohlone of SF Bay Area
SJ Walls presents “This Is The Way” a final short documentary highlighting the Artist in Residence program.
In 2020, @guadaluperiverparkconservancy and @sanjosewalls joined forces with a shared vision to use the Guadalupe River Park and Trail to enhance the existing public art and create the Bay Area’s longest public art corridor.
The joint benefits of public art and open spaces function as a catalyst to foster community resiliency, attract park users, spark inspiration, and promote social healing.
Film by Jennifer Gonzalez Media
Artist In Residency #3 - Alfonso Salazar
Alfonso Salazar was born in 1962 at and grew up near Penitencia Creek off of McKee and White Road in SJ. His parents immigrated to San Jose from Mexico in 1958. He was one of the first students to attend Independence High School in 1976 where he studied as many art electives available.
Influenced by Walt Disney, cartoons on TV, comic strips, books and Mad Magazine. Alfonso often drew caricatures of his classmates and teachers and became the school’s first cartoonist for their newspaper.
Alfonso studied at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. Known for the El Tarasco mural that was painted in 1986 then whitewashed in 2011 when a new owner moved in. The mural was his largest work after he graduated from Otis. He later became a graphic designer and clerk for the postal service.
“We Are Muwekma Ohlone” This short film follows Alfonso Salazar in creating his mural along the Guadalupe River Trail for our third Artist In Residence.
This measures at a total of 2,550 square feet inspired by the first inhabitant of the The Guadalupe River, originally known as the Thámien Rúmmey.
For more info on Alfonso’s experience painting his second mural after 35 years, his concept design and the honor to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Muwekma Council, visit HERE
Film by Jennifer Gonzalez Media
Artist In Residency #2 - Kristina Micotti
Kristina Micotti is an illustrator and designer from San Jose, California who's illustrations are playful, bold, and simple. She likes to create anything that makes her laugh and spread joy with her work.
For more info Kristina’s completed mural, visit HERE
Once again we teamed up with Jennifer Gonzalez Media and her team, to produce this short film which follows Kristina Micotti in creating her first mural along the Guadalupe River Trail as POW! WOW! San Jose's second Artist In Residence.
Kristina’s mural “Do You Know The Way To San Jose’s Guadalupe River Trail?” measures at a total of 2,550 square feet with fun characters inspired from the natural habitat in and along the river.
Calendar of Events
Alfonso Salazar painting site #3 - mid April through early March
Kristina Micotti painting site #2 - January 23 - February 7
IG Live, a chat between Kristina Micotti and Juan Carlos Araujo (PWSJ co-director) - March 12 from 6-7pm
Launch of limited edition Kristina' Micotti x PWSJ x GRPC pins and hand painted totes - March 15
Mural Unveiling short film and Panel Discussion / followed by Art Boutiki’s Drink and Draw - March 18 from 6-9pm
