Printer-friendly version
By August 22, 2024 (La Mesa) -- To reverse blight and beautify La Mesa’s streets, the City is revitalizing a converted pedestrian walkway, cloaking it with infectious art that continues to honor volunteerism.
Older, faded murals are gone, soon to be replaced by vibrant new works of art. These proposed mural projects are set to align the walkway in a gallery style, with inlaid black pillars and panels, mimicking frames. The concept designs for five out of eight artists’ were presented at the City Council meeting last week.
Contributing artist Kolten French praised La Mesa for investing in the city, as well as “investing in their artist community, and bringing people out to paint and beautify that area. I think it says a lot about La Mesa in general.”
The Walkway of the Stars, between Allison Ave municipal parking lot and La Mesa Blvd, features decorative stars with the names of volunteers who have given more than 10,000 hours of service to the city.
“We are really excited about the mural project in the Walkway of the Stars … the walkway is a main entryway into our village, and the new artwork will add to the vibrancy of our downtown,” Michelle Huey, Vice President of the La Mesa Village Association (LMVA) and owner of Pete's Place, said.
Public Works San Diego began the project’s execution by repainting those rusted steel pillars black while manicuring the landscape in preparation for the revamped murals.
“All the choices were well thought of, and we’re never going to please everyone, so buckle up,” Mayor Mark Arapostathis said.
The theme of the overall project is to depict variations of volunteerism in the artists’ style.
Grow Love by Anna Pearson pays tribute to community gardens by illustrating mother nature as a female figure caring for a small tree. The child represents the continuity of generations learning from a good example to grow into their garden. “That’s something that I really like to do, is just bring different forms of art and lots of colors to spaces that otherwise are sort of drab,” French said.
Meanwhile, Litter Pick Up (photo, top) by Kolten French displays La Mesa topographically. He thinks trash clean-up is an important chore that everyone should enact out of human decency because the community must keep our city clean and safe. Volunteerism is often doing underappreciated, or maybe even unnoticed work.
French aims to put thoughtful, engaging and educational art within schools citywide to make the world less beige and institutionalized.
“[My mural] is someone hiking through a beautiful area, but also taking the time to stop and grab garbage out of the area rather than skirt right past it,” he said.
Don Massey’s design is called Volunteer Coaching, which celebrates the hard work and dedication of coaching and volunteers in our community to invite inclusivity. He added hues of pink and blues to move away from gender bias in sports representation. The star images symbolize how coaches shine a positive light on their players in the sports community as they volunteer their time and energy.“You never know who you’re going to meet, or what you’re gonna do, it’s just kind of cool when you open yourself up to different stuff like that,” French said.
The next concept design, Basket of Abundance and Sharing by Jonny Alexander, showcases the jewel on the hill amongst new and old generations sharing a basket of abundant resources. Acts of volunteerism can come in many types of services for the City, neighbor, stranger or friend, according to the artist’s statement. “Maybe even like once a week, once a month, do something for somebody else, just to try to make somebody’s day a little better, or a little easier. I’m all about that. It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking like kids in schools, or you’re talking elderly folks, just whatever it is, anybody who might need some help,” French said
Mark Hedges’ Agents of Change: A Novel Approach is a concept design that integrates those black steel pillars as bookends. Eight books are featured with titles representing traits and values that a volunteer embodies, encouraging viewers to connect with artwork on multiple levels.
There are three additional concept designs yet to be revealed. However, the City Council unanimously approved five out of eight proposed mural projects, which is following the recommendation from the Arts and Culture Commission.
“I like the art. They’re all wildly different from each other. Was there ever a discussion about continuity? You know like the styles are so different; it’s a little jarring,” Vice Mayor Laura Lothian said.
Artists conceptualized their designs individually in the name of vibrant compassion and consideration for the community. Along La Mesa’s Walkway of the Stars, artists look forward to unveiling a diverse and colorful display later this month.
Recent comments