In June 2022, Downtown ConcorIt became a more colourful place as six murals brought drab buildings to life with shiny depictions of untamed birds, local culture and futuristic landscapes, each as unique because the artist who created them.
Turns out it was only the start. In 2023, one other six murals were added, and in the approaching weeks more – 18 in total – will likely be created within the small business district around Todos Santos Plaza.
“We noticed all kinds of public art in the Bay Area, but not in Concord,” Tari Loring said. Concord is just not only an important, multicultural community, she said, but additionally home to many artists who must go to Oakland or San Francisco to showcase their work.
The Lorings, who continue to exist the border of Concord and Walnut Creek, approached city officials in 2021 with a suggestion to work together to create an experience that was “unlike any existing arts programs in the Bay Area,” said Tari Loring. The result was Creative Concord, a celebration of art, culture and community that began with murals and now culminates annually in a weekend celebration – the Art and music jamfifth–sixth October – invites audiences to Todos Santos Plaza to walk amongst 16 artists working on large-format canvases against a backdrop of live music. It is co-produced by Creative Local Edition, the City of Concord and Visit Concord.
Now in its third yr, the event features local musicians and interactive booths where the general public can take part in hands-on activities with artists and humanities organizations. Highlights include the installation of a brand new mosaic in Salvio Pacheco Square, where visitors can hear a pop-up opera performance on Sunday afternoons. Other community organizations on the list included nonprofit group Guitars Not Guns and community favorite Taiko Diablo. For a self-guided tour of the murals, visit CreativeConcordCA.com.
Local music producer Dave Hughes helped put together the musicians, with an emphasis on local singer-songwriters relatively than cover bands. Highlights include Chika Di, Emily Afton and The Seshen.
“(This year) we’re not really trying to build something bigger, we’re much more focused on the depth of things,” Sage Loring explained. For example, he said, the weekend paintings were done on 5-by-6-foot canvases, making it easier to observe the painters at work. While the weekend creations have been donated to local organizations and businesses previously, this yr they will likely be available on the market to the general public, with the artists keeping 100% of the proceeds.
The event also attracts art lovers: the prospect of seeing the brand new murals being created, including one by Juur, a nationally recognized Japanese-American artist with greater than 30 murals across the United States. She is working on “Onikenbai Dancers” and plans to finish it in time for the Oct. 4 dedication ceremony to rejoice the fiftieth anniversary of Concord and Kitakami’s sister city relationship. A delegation from the Japanese city will likely be present.
Some of the muralists are from the Bay Area, others from across the country, and a few are entirely local, including tattoo artist and painter Brian Arriaga, whose mural “California Dreamin'” hangs on East Street.
“As an artist born and raised in Concord, I believe the Creative Concord initiative is a pivotal and much-needed program for the city,” said Arriaga, who was also an artist on the 2022 Art and Music Jam. “It creates valuable opportunities for artists of all ages and abilities while enhancing and inspiring the entire community.”
According to Lisa Roeber, downtown Concord program manager, Creative Concord is strictly this system town has long needed.
“Art has always been a great tool for revitalization,” she said, mentioning that the timing of this — because the world was emerging from the coronavirus crisis and other people were in search of outdoor places to assemble — was a catalyst. The city funded the project with funds it received through the federal American Rescue Plan. With this system now underway, sponsorship opportunities will likely be created for downtown retailers.
The idea, says Sage Loring, is to create a hyperlocal economic boost. “We really focus on small businesses; Big companies don't need help. What also makes any place interesting are the small businesses.”
CREATIVE CONSISTENCE
When: fifth–sixth October, 12-5 p.m
Where: Todos Santos Plaza, Concord
Permit: Free
Details: The full lineup of artists, musicians and murals, including murals in progress, may be found at CreativeConcordCA.com.
image credit : www.mercurynews.com