Kat Morgan, a consultant for nonprofit organizations, has been documenting over 500 murals in her community of Seaside since moving to the area during shelter-in-place. She enjoys public art because it is accessible to everyone and doesn’t require going into a museum or gallery. Morgan has been taking photographs of murals large and small and adding them to a map so others can locate and enjoy them.
Morgan has found a wide range of techniques, scenes, and materials in murals of Monterey County, including works by José Ortiz, a Salinas native and Salinas-based artist who started Hijos del Sol. His murals are fantastic, huge, beautiful, and have a distinctive style that often depicts communities and groups working together.
Murals in different communities reflect the history and cultural heritage of the place, such as a mural in Soledad about Chinese immigrants who helped establish the city. Other murals depict the natural world, birds, marshland, ocean life, and humpback whales. The value of street art in Southern California is its long-standing history of social change and social justice, with organizations dedicated to expressing the history and culture of people who haven’t always been celebrated, particularly in schools.
The Chicano art mural movement continues to exist, and Morgan believes there is so much value in street art in our communities. By documenting and sharing these murals, she hopes to encourage more businesses and cities to become street art-friendly.
Artwork is essential for visualizing our world and fostering creativity in children. Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Philadelphia, one of the largest nonprofits, celebrates public art and adds value to the city through tourism. They aim to engage all artists, not just those chosen for museum placements, and democratize art. This approach is crucial as artwork is beneficial for all, as it helps tap into our creativity and improves school performance.
The organization aims to engage all artists, not just those selected for museum placements, and promotes a more inclusive and inclusive art scene.
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