NEWS RELEASE
April 2, 2012
More information: Jill Esterbrooks, (619) 517-1113
Anna Orzel-Arnita, (619) 889-2842
Local Art Students Work their Magic on Dull Utility Boxes along Streamview Drive
Rather than party during upcoming spring break, area college students volunteering their creative talents for public art project
SAN DIEGO -- Once-drab utility boxes along bustling thoroughfares in the Redwood Village neighborhood of San Diego will soon show off colorful plants, splashy flowers and zany wildlife created by local art students.
Rather than partying during the upcoming spring break, members of the Grossmont College Art and Design Club are partnering with the Redwood Village Community Council the week of April 2 to 6 to artistically adorn 10 utility boxes and 4 trash cans with vibrant visuals depicting native San Diego flora and fauna.
According to Redwood Village Community Council President Anna Orzel-Arnita, this joint art project fueled by volunteers and funded by local businesses will provide an “artistic dimension to the community’s streets and sidewalks, promoting a welcoming environment and beautifying the streetscape.”
“This is just the beginning of our Redwood Village Art Walk,” she noted. “We want to improve the walking experience in our neighborhood and encourage community members to get out and enjoy their beautiful community. This utility art project will certainly increase our community pride!”
Instead of relaxing over spring break and taking a much-needed rest from classes and school work, the dozen or so Grossmont College students are committing hundreds of hours to this artistic endeavor because they believe visual art is one way to make a big difference in a community.
“The Art and Design Club students are excited for the opportunity to create their unique designs and get them out in the community for people to enjoy,” said Jennifer Bennett, an area resident and college art professor. “It opens people's eyes and minds to the beauty that is here with us. Hopefully, the artwork will brighten someone's day and encourage them to also do something positive for the community.”
It is not just area residents who will be appreciating these eye-catching blips of art soon to be spotted throughout the Redwood Village community located just south of I-8 near the College area. Business owners are sponsoring the box beautification effort because they find public art to be a great addition to the local atmosphere.
Barbara Belcher, Realtor® with Century 21 Carole Realty, said she’s donating to the Redwood Village
Village Utility Box Art Project because public perception is often a big factor in decision making about where to live.
“Appearance is the most visible indicator of community pride, along with its economic and social health,” said Belcher. “It is either an asset or a liability to the efforts of recruiting new residents and businesses to our community. Public art projects such as this enhance our quality of life, which is what separates successful neighborhoods from declining communities. It also helps maintain and increase property values.”
James Robbins of RJC Architects, a long-time supporter of visual and performing arts throughout the region, said his firm is helping to fund the utility box art project because it “turns ordinary objects and spaces into urban landmarks and promotes a sense of place.”
Employees of The Ken Blanchard Companies also are giving back to the Redwood Village community. Blanchard for Others is a volunteer, employee-funded entity that, on behalf of the people of The Ken Blanchard Companies, provides financial contributions and other assistance for basic needs to charitable organizations, relief funds, and educational programs.
San Diego City Council President
Tony Young, who represents District 4 communities from Oakpark and Encanto to Skyline and Paradise Hills, commended the local residents and student artists for initiating the Redwood Village Utility Box Art Project.
“It is often these smaller neighborhood-based beautification projects that have the biggest and brightest impact by bringing art into our daily lives,” he said.
About RVCC
The Redwood Village Community Council (RVCC) (formerly known as the Darnall Community Council) was formed in 1982 and consists of a volunteer board. The goals of the RVCC are to promote the welfare of the community and the residents within, to secure adequate representation before any organization dealing with the well being of our community, and to serve as a channel of communication between legislative bodies or city departments and the community. The mission of the RVCC is to enrich the quality of the lives of the people of Redwood Village by using the power of positive relationships to promote and encourage community action and advocacy.
About Jennifer Bennett
Bennett grew up nearby, in Lemon Grove. She attended Grossmont College herself and took her first drawing class there many years ago. It was always a dream of hers to return to Grossmont to teach drawing and painting courses and inspire young artists. She has been teaching at Grossmont for six years now, after teaching in Ohio for six years.
About Barbara Belcher
Barbara Belcher is a Realtor® with Century 21 Carole Realty. She has been serving the College Neighborhoods, specializing in Redwood Village, since 2002. Barbara is also a resident of Redwood Village and a community volunteer.
About RJC Architects
Headquartered in the Bankers Hill neighborhood of San Diego, RJC has worked on properties with an aggregate construction value exceeding $1.5 billion. The firm specializes in office, industrial, civic and educational facilities, with current and recently completed projects including the County of San Diego’s Operations Center, a new headquarters for the U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Command, a new residential community for Marines at Camp Pendleton and the West City Campus of San Diego Community College District. For more information, visit www.rjcarch.com.
About Blanchard for Others
Blanchard for Others is a volunteer, employee-funded entity that, on behalf of the people of The Ken Blanchard Companies, provides financial contributions and other assistance for basic needs to charitable organizations, relief funds, and educational programs.
