Public Art Project in Redwood Village
April 2, 2012
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.
For more information call Jill Esterbrooks, (619) 517-1113, or Anna Orzel-Arnita, (619) 889-2842
