Guadalupe River Park mural kicks off initiative
Artist Roan Victor’s mural “Flow of Life” is a colorful addition to the southernmost end of the Guadalupe River Park in San Jose, and it’s expected to be just the beginning of an effort to draw more people to the park through art.
The mural on the sign bridge on Woz Way that spans the river is the first piece produced by the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy’s artist-in-residence program, a collaboration with Pow!Wow! San Jose. Victor, who owns the Arsenal gallery in Japantown with her husband, artist Sean Boyles, said her intent was to provide a message of hope and a feeling of tranquility by being surrounded by the beauty of nature.
The colorful mural depicts the river along with birds, plants and flowers and an outstretched arm and hand.
“The imagery of a river turning into an arm, vice versa, in my proposal essentially represents the river flowing to give life,’ she said. “Historically, I believe the river became a source of food and livelihood to the natives of the land: humans, wildlife and vegetation. And as we approach a changing climate, the river adapts and life keeps flowing.”
Pow!Wow! San Jose, which
has brought muralists to the city for the past three years, wants to use the river park as a “nature studio,” with a goal of creating a Guadalupe River Park Art Walk. Pow!Wow! San Jose co- director Stacy Kellogg says Victor’s mural is the first step in a vision to produce the longest public art corridor in the Bay Area through residencies for local and visiting artists.
DOWNTOWN PANDAS GET MAKEOVER >>
A popular mural in downtown San Jose got an update last month that pretty well reflects our new normal. PMBQ Studios — a “panda lifestyle brand” founded by graphic designer and artist PhuongMai Bui- Quang — worked with the San Jose Downtown Association to create the original “First St. Panda Cafe” on a wall covering a burned- out lot in 2015. (That piece replaced a previous panda mural created by Paul J. Gonzalez in 2008.)
But time took its toll, and some of the panels were damaged by wood rot, fire and termites. So the PMBQ crew came out last month to paint
new scenes of pandas — both the black-and-white and red varieties — playing soccer, flying kites and exercising in the outdoors to join the undamaged panels of the original mural.
Two new features are a few autonomous delivery robots in the scene and all the playful pandas are wearing facemasks. Now, if only more of us followed the pandas’ example, we might start moving in the right direction again.
DOCTOR, DOCTOR >> It’s not a bad week to honor medical professionals in the Bay Area. San Jose State’s College of Journalism and Mass Communication bestowed
its William Randolph Heart Award on Dr. Anthony Fauci on Tuesday, and the India Community Center in Milpitas will present its Inspire Award to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, at its 17th annual fundraiser on Friday.
During the 7 p.m. online event, Gupta will have a conversation with Venky Ganesan of Menlo Ventures, a former president of the ICC’s board. The festivities include a silent auction and entertainment by comedy magician Robert Strong and Indian Idol winner Salman Ali. Registration is free at indiacc.org/ banquet2020.