By Theresa-Marie Wilson
Photos by Trudy Jarrett ~
Community members put brush to canvas and created their own masterpieces during the recent Bluegrass and Brushes fundraiser benefiting Arroyo Grande Public Art (AGPA).
About 70 people attended the event held at the Women’s Club of Arroyo Grande where two art bars with instructors were set up for the creatively inclined to paint a landscape or create a unique wineglass.
The Arroyo Grande Public Art (AGPA) committee was formed in 2013 by the non-profit Arroyo Grande in Bloom. The group helps to ensure that city art guidelines are met.
“Public art will enhance the natural beauty of Arroyo Grande and educate locals and tourists alike about our culture, our history, and provide an appreciation of art,” said AGPA Chair Trudy Jarrett.
The first of the AGPA involved projects was the 73×22 ft. mural covering the east facing wall of the former JJ’s Market building at 303 E. Branch Street depicting a visual narrative of the city’s rich agricultural history.
The second project was a 6-foot tall Japanese lantern sculpture that stands near the entryway to the Peoples’ Self Help Housing project on Courtland Avenue. The sculpture honors the Japanese-American farmworkers who once worked the land where the housing development now stands.
AGPA recently received a national “Best Public Art That Celebrates The Heritage of the Community” award from America In Bloom at their Symposium in Holland, Michigan.
Early estimates indicate that the recent fundraiser brought in $4,000 for future projects for AGPA.
Funds from the live auction will provide seed money to create a work of public art using a girder from the World Trade Center that was given to the Five Cities Fire Authority. The display will honor the firefighters who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
Former FCFA Chief Terry Fibich and former city councilman Joe Costello are heading up the effort that will be installed at the Arroyo Grande fire station.
What is next on the AGPA agenda?
“We are in a coalition with the local Northern Chumash tribe, the Yak Titu, Yak Titu Tilhini, to create a work of art to reflect their culture and history in the greater Arroyo Grande area,” said Jarrett. “The proposal is currently with the city and we hope to get final approval no later than November.”
Jarrett said the proposed art piece would be an original design of a traditional Chumash basket made from copper. The texturized 3-dimensional sculpture would resemble a coiled basket tray, circular in shape and approximately 4 feet in diameter. Plans are to display it on the Walk of History in Heritage Square Park.
“Arroyo Grande Public Art wants to encourage and assist developers, business owners, and community groups to consider including public art in their projects,” Jarrett said. “We all benefit from the unique language public art provides – pride in our community and a passion to communicate that pride through the language of public art.”
For more information, visit the Arroyo Grande Public Art Facebook page, or https://www.arroyograndeinbloom.org/public_art/index.shtml or call Arroyo Grande in Bloom at 710-4049.