Journal:
Neighbors
share
vision
for
new
mural
in
Beach
Flats
In January, City staff and the Arts Commission hosted two visioning workshops in the Beach Flats neighborhood - at which they talked with neighbors about what they want to see in a new mural. Neighbors discussed a variety of questions about their memories, what they like to do at the park and more. When asked to create a book title or TV series about the new mural, suggestions included “One Tree, Many Granches,” and “We Belong to this Place and We Belong to Each Other” and “La Cultura no se borrra ne se olvida” (The culture is not erased or forgotten.)
The purpose of the events in Beach Flats is to get neighbors talking to one another and to collect stories that will be provided to the artist(s) that are hired to create a new mural. — Beth Ragel
As part of continued outreach a story-collecting event was held in February in partnership with Nueva Vista Community Resources at Beach Flats,Santa Cruz Community Health Centers, Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation, and Arts Council Santa Cruz County/Mariposa’s Art. Residents shared memories from living in Beach Flats at the "StoryCorps booth." The stories collected are available here.
The event also included an art activity for all ages, a drum circle, and free tamales.
Along with other historical information about the neighborhood, all of the feedback and stories collected at these three events will be provided to the artist(s) commissioned to make a new mural that will wrap the Beach Flats Park and play area - to be installed this summer.
Click on photo to view gallery.