Redwood City residents will be able to vote for the Equity Mural from among two proposals to be submitted by March 27th through the following website www.redwoodcity.org/departments/parks-recreation-and-community-services/racial-equity-muralThe following is a brief survey at the end of the presentations.
It's time to make your voice heard so that the mural you feel truly conveys the idea of equity in Redwood City is a banner at the entrance to the city.
There is little time left, as the winning project will be unveiled on March 28, and will be presented by the Redwood City Arts Commission along with the Racial Equity Steering Committee to the City Council Board for final approval.
Notably, the equity mural will be located in the underpass at 1300 Block Jefferson. A central location with high visibility for automobiles and pedestrians in front of the city's Public Library.
In addition to engaging and celebrating the community through the Racial Equity Steering Committee and the Arts Commission, the murals reinforce Redwood City's commitment to racial equity and social justice issues.
For Chicana artist Lucía González Hipólito, her project is based on the conversation between the teacher and the student to begin with a chronological history through the 12 pieces that make up the mural.
"It begins chronologically through history as the middle school teacher educates a 7th grader about Ohlone and important periods in Redwood City, as well as moments in our country's history that are uncomfortable or significant to people of color," the artist noted.
He added that he also included symbols and patterns to represent different cultural groups in the area.
"This design was created on my iPad with a mix of hand drawing, illustration and collage. While it's not a precise display of my artistic skills or style, I focused more on the story and concept, and it's usually how I format initial ideas for murals and my techniques manifest more in actual painting," he stressed.
"I hope that the concept will remain the same, but that small aspects of the design will be altered or added, as I am a painter who improvises a lot influenced by my surroundings and the community," she said.
For Rachel Wolfe Goldsmith, the other semi-finalist and an Oakland artist, "creating an equitable world requires telling an honest account of history and sharing our hopes and dreams for the future."
In that sense he noted that his design illustrates historical parodies along with achievements and visions. "The design I present has a non-linear timeline where stories intertwine with each other."
"When researching the history of Redwood City, I was continually directed to the History of San Mateo. Sure, it was possible to find YouTube videos about Redwood City Hall, when things were built and some basic facts, but when looking for a diverse and multifaceted perspective, it was more difficult," he recounted during his presentation.
In these micro studies, he noted, I continue to find stories from the San Mateo County area, East Palo Alto and other surrounding areas.
"If I am selected as an artist for this project, I will work with the Racial Equity Committee to organize community meetings and dialogue with their residents. These meetings give me a more intimate understanding and how they want their story told. I would prefer to hire members of the local community to pose for the mural and use original photographic references," she said.
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