The City of Temecula, Community Services Department, and the Temecula Valley Museum seek to support emerging artists by providing a space to showcase their craft. Each month or two, student artists will have the opportunity, facilitated by Bigfoot Graphics, to paint a mural on varying topics. For information on how to get involved, call 951-694-6450.

June 2021 – Temecula high school students, facilitated by Great Oak High School’s Black Student Union Media Director, Phylicia Joseph, took their inspiration from Jane Hartman, Distinguished Fellow and resident Emerita at the Wilson Center, a non-partisan policy forum for tackling global issues, and 44th President Barack Obama. Said Ms. Hartman, “True justice and equality continue to be a distant dream for too many in this country, and we must not allow the important progress we have made to blind us from the struggles that still persist”. On a previous observance of Juneteenth, President Obama declared “the slaves of Galveston knew their freedom was only a first step, just as the bloodied foot soldiers who crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge 100 years later knew they had to keep marching.”
These sentiments inspired the students to create a mural commemorating Juneteenth celebrating the progress that has been made while still respecting the struggles that persist, by showcasing the talents of African American students and residents in our community and their part in the “important progress” towards equality and representation. Social Media: @officialgohsbsu @phyliciamjoseph @riveraimagery
May 2021 – In honor of Japan’s “Children’s Day” celebration, former Great Oak High School student artist Ly Bucci and UC Irvine student Amanda Le created this mural. States artist Ly Bucci “Since this was in tribute to Temecula’s Sister City Daisen, Amanda and I wanted to incorporate some known things in Japanese culture, along with memories of their festive events held in Old Town Temecula, such as the Children’s Day Festival, complete with Koinobori carp streamers and the origami. I’ve always admired the cherry blossom trees and I’m always fascinated with their dragons so I wanted to add that”.
Artist Amanda Le added, I wanted to show the connection between the two sister cities, Temecula and Daisen by placing the Torii gate in the middle of the mural, and including the mountains to represent Mount Daisen on the side. We added lots of color and balloons to bring out a feeling of joy and happiness with hope that we inspire that connection in every corner of this mural”. Instagram for Ms. Bucci is @ TenguHarley Instagram for Ms. Le is @amanngle.
950950April 2021 – This month, in celebration of the nearing of the end of our COVID-19 Pandemic, Bigfoot Graphics student artist Sabina Rose Flores created this mural celebrating the end of the 1918 Pandemic. “I wanted this mural to convey the severity of the pandemic of 1918. I designed the mural with the intent of showing the process and stages of going through a pandemic which is why it is divided into three main sections. A graveyard symbolizing death and lives lost, medical staff taking the sick to the hospitals for care, And lastly empty hospital beds symbolizing recovery and that the pandemic had come to an end. It’s odd to create something that is about an event that occurred a hundred years ago when the world is currently facing a similar situation. I’d like to think my mural conveys hope and acts as a testament that all pandemics will eventually end”. Social Media: @anonymous.__.weirdoInstagram
March 2021 – Student Artist Charlie Lively created this mural in celebration of Women’s History Month. Said Ms. Lively, “For my mural I was inspired by impactful women throughout history. I decided to go with a black and white portrait theme with a bright and vibrant background to help the women stand out. There is also a quote by each woman relating to one of their accomplishments or actions through their life”. Women featured on the mural include Scientist Madam Marie Curie, Civic Rights Activist Rosa Parks, Sports Legend Billie Jean King, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Student Rights Leader Malala Yousafzai.
950February 2021 – This inaugural mural was conceived by student Phylicia Joseph, President of the Black Student Union at Great Oak High School, and painted by students at Great Oak High School, Temecula Valley High School, Chaparral High School and AFJROTC; including Chelsea Ross, Chase Ruffing, Mekhi Herd, Makhel Herd, Avery Shartzer, DeAnna Davis, Kayla Tran, Guylan Belser, Paul Yun, and Phylicia Joseph. Depicted on the mural include WWII Hero Waverly Bernard Woodson, Jr., Poet Amanda Gordon, Actress Cicely Tyson and Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King.

 

Copyright 2020 by Temecula Valley Museum Inc.