# data[].attributes.body
This public artwork is located on the campus of Stanford University. It's titled "Oy/Yo" and created by artist, Deborah Kass 2019 . It's displayed outside the Anderson Collection.  The first time I saw it, it made me smile.  I love the bold and bright yellow color and the large size of this sculpture.  It's human sized.  The word "Yo" can be read from one side and "Oy" can be read from the other side. It's irreverent and humorous. I like how this artwork engages the public, that people take selfies in front of it and pose beside it. Some people frame their faces inside the O. From the Cantor website I found the following description, "OY/YO explores the combination of imagery and language: “oy,” as in “oy vey,” is a Yiddish term of fatigue, resignation or woe; “yo,” is a greeting associated with African American slang. In addition, “yo” in Spanish means “I.” Each usage has been co-opted in popular culture. “The fact that this particular work resonates so beautifully in so many languages to so many communities is why I wanted to make it monumental,” Kass told the New York Times.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Year: 1992Artist: Dan Sawatsky, Chemainus, British Columbia Location: 137 South H St.

# data[].attributes.body
This public artwork is located in the small downtown of Lompoc, CA. The art work to me shows the strength of women and no man will stop the determination. This mural had my attention because of the way the artist has a few objects outside the border. This mural brought a sense of strength to me and the importance of team work. I really have no dislikes about this mural. The only thing I could think of it maybe have a shadow for the man standing outside the boarder, instead of him looking like he's floating. The art work didn't remind me of anything but it did make me think about the time period the mural is set. The piece is about a band of women fighting against alcohol being part of Lompoc. This is why we see the band of women pulling a building that was associated with alcohol.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
"Aztec Calendar" by Artist: Antonio Nava Torres (1995). Located in San Jose, California at Biebrach Park. 

# data[].attributes.body
The art work means something different to each individual. What I find attractive about the artwork is the colors, the textures, and the composition. It evokes a sense of wonder and culture. I like the way the colors and textures work together to create a harmonious relationship. I also like how the artist was able to create a sense of depth and movement within the painting. The artwork brings out a range of emotions within me especially being from a Hispanic background, from admiration to a sense of identity. It reminds me of the beauty of culture. It also reminds me of the importance of taking time to appreciate the little things in life such as a mural at a park that is local to me. I do not dislike anything about the artwork, it is a way of showing pride and appreciation to ones culture and background.

# data[].attributes.body
I wasn’t able to find the artist's name or the title of the piece so I thought about finding another but I really wanted to do this flower because it is something I see often that brings me joy. It’s located right by the SAP center on Barack Obama Boulevard. I love this piece of art because I love the way the artist painted it to look like it was photographed as if it was moving rather than stagnant. I have always liked the idea of optical illusions in art. It reminds me of the hand drawing I did in elementary school where we had to draw our hand raised off the paper by curving the lines. There are other pieces of public art near this that I see frequently as well but my eyes are always drawn to the movement and the different shades despite there only being three or four colors used to depict the flower. I also really like this piece because it’s so open to interpretation, to one person it could be just a flower on a wall, to another it could be a symbol for joy and happiness. I see it as growth and change. Every time I see it I’m reminded of how flowers, like everything in the world, grow and change and move even if we don’t see them instantaneously. I also like that it's in a populated space but not one the major road right there.

# data[].attributes.headline
Eastridge Mall mural by Aaron De La Cruz, Brendan Monroe, Lila Gemellos and Cyrcle

# data[].attributes.subject
Eastridge Mall mural by Aaron De La Cruz, Brendan Monroe, Lila Gemellos and Cyrcle

# data[].attributes.body
1. When I saw this artwork, it meant community to me.
2. I haven't gone to Eastridge mall in a long time, maybe over 2-3 years. When I parked near the Red Robin I had seen this mural and stopped and thought about this assignment. I thought to myself, wow, this is so beautiful. Everything the artists incorporated relating to the city of San Jose, it was so cool seeing the colors and everything in the art coming together the more you looked at it. This is what attracted me to the artwork.
3. It brought happiness and a warm kind of feeling out of me, it made me feel proud.
4. I liked how they brought not only San Jose into the art but the whole bay area. It made me think of my community, the unity we have in the bay area. It included these cities: Morgan Hill, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, and many more.
5. The artwork reminded me of my dad. As I mentioned before, he can draw really well. He used to draw cityscape artwork for me when I was a kid. So since the mural had cityscapes in the artwork, that's where that warm familiar feeling came from. It reminded me of my dad :)

# data[].attributes.body
This is my good luck snail on campus. There is no plaque about its official name or the name of the artist that I could find. I've named him chartuse. I've known chartuse for about 2 years. When I need good luck for an exam I pet his shell. He makes me feel happy. Whenever I am on campus with someone I make sure to show him off. He is located by the science building on sjcc campus, on the patch of grass. I love how small he is, and how if you are walking to class you can easily miss him. He is such a small, but meaningfull part of my day. And being able to share him with others truly makes me happy. He makes my commute between classes better.

If you see chartuse on your way to class make sure to say hello ! ❤️

# data[].attributes.body
This artwork is located on the campus of UC Berkeley. I went to visit a friend last week that goes there and came across this. This artwork is named "Existence is Resistance" . It was created in 2017 by 12 students along with artists from "Precita Eyes Muralists". 1. This artwork really stood out to me because of how beautiful it is. The colors definitely caught my eye and in some way brought me so much comfort and life. I love the detail and thought that was put into it, it really makes me appreciate it. 2. The thing that attracted me to the artwork the most was the pop of color it carries, the colors are so bright and intense that it is hard to miss. It is also a very long piece that is only a little part of the huge artwork, it is beautiful and so worth looking at. 3. This artwork made me feel really happy when seeing it. I love appreciating these works. More emotions came out when I looked more into it and figured out this is a mural representing social justice, it made me feel content. 4. I love the colors of this artwork, I think the bright and beautiful colors are what engage the public and make them stay to view. I also like how it connects to a theme that many of us fight for. There is strong meaning & I think we can all see it when viewing it. 5. This artwork did not remind me of anything which I like, I can't compare and I admire how unique it is. I really enjoyed coming across this and looking at the detail, this is one of my new favorite artworks.

There is also an article about this! it can be located at :     https://artsdesign.berkeley.edu/visual-arts/news/uc-berkeley-students-paint-social-justice-themed-mural-at-cesar-chavez-student

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Saxe, J. (2005). Window Box #1. Berryessa Branch Library   

# data[].attributes.body
This public artwork is created by Joe Saxe in 2005. It is located at the Berryessa Branch Library in San Jose. I have been going to this library ever since I was a child, so I would occasionally see this beautiful art piece. This artwork showcases the exploration of books and the wondrous worlds they carry, displaying different books on the vines of a tree. It also reflects the welcoming space the library creates for the community. This art piece produces a warm, calming feeling with the images of nature, and the presence of books. It expresses a mix of fantasy and realistic portrayals. Both books and nature project a peaceful mood. I love how realistic the details look in the painting and the vibrant green colors used for the leaves. I also like how the artist painted a sun to represent daytime and below, painted the night sky. It signifies how you could easily get lost in books. The artwork reminds me of the nostalgic days when I was a child and visited this library very often after school.

# data[].attributes.body
“LIFE” Artist: Lawrence Kirkland Located at Berryessa Bart Station 1620 Berryessa rd.

1.     What does the art work means to you? When I look at this sculpture, I think about all the obstacles you go through life, All the hard work you have done, where you have been or what you have gone through to achieve or plan to achieve with your goals.

2.     What attracted you to the artwork? I see an individual moving forward in life and not looking back. Working towards the mountain top and not giving up. Looking at it can also be encouraging to continue to do your best and never quit even when you are having obstacles in your way.

3.     What kind of emotions did it bring about? I would say that it makes me feel strong and if I continue to believe in myself, I will accomplish my goals. Also proud for everything that I have accomplished so far.

4.     What do you like or dislike about the artwork? Be specific. There is nothing that I do not like about the art.

5.     Did the artwork remind you of anything? It reminds me of everything I have gone through and how hard I’ve worked to get to where I am today.

# data[].attributes.body
This art piece by Frida Kahlo by the artist luna on Instagram @artesluna is located at the Con Azucar cafe in downtown San Jose. I recently visited this cafe with my best friend and was enthusiastic about this artwork. As women's history month is coming up, I felt proud and appreciative as I looked at this art piece. This artwork reminds me of Frida Kahlo and her race with her beautiful paintings. What attracted me to this artwork was how large the mural was and the use of spray paint for this piece. The detail and realism of Frida Kahlo's portrait using spray paint are what I like most about this art. I also love the brightness and emphasis of the flowers on fire and Concha with pink colors. Other than that, I have nothing to dislike except the lost detail in the surrounding Kahlo's portrait. But, this could be an emphasis from the artist on Kahlo's image. This artwork reminded me of Frida Kahlo, and I did some past art in honor of her.

# data[].attributes.body
I will admit, I was not able to get my own photo, I am home sick and not able to leave before the due date, But hopefully my word to this till make up for that but to start I have strong connection to the Livermore community. This 5-foot diameter granite water ball fountain represents the nucleus of the Livermorium atom. Scientist at the Livermore Labs (Department of Energy) created/discovered a new element called Livermorium! During the construction of the new Livermorium Plaza, the city had the art work commissioned to sit in the center of the park. It a water fountain.   I could not find the specific artist but it created by the construction company building the park/plaza.  Bothman Construction.

1. What does the art work means to you?

To me this means a few things. The piece literally represents the center nucleus of the element. We took something, so tiny and turned it in to somethings we can all touch and see.
2. What attracted you to the artwork?

When I first heard of the project I was really excited to see what it was going to look like. I love science and feel that what took my interest in this piece.

3.What kind of emotions did it bring about?
I find joy and happiness to keep it short. Science is just a very wonderful thing.

4.What do you like or dislike about the artwork? Be specific.
There is nothing I hate about it. But! What I Do love about it is that it free to public and it shares the history of what the meaning of the piece is and why its so significant to the  City of Livermore!

5.Did the artwork remind you of anything?
When I see it, It reminds me of a globe. It seems like a lot of things in science is globe shaped.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Alebrijes Mural. Artist: Francisco Franco Year: 2019 Commissioned By: Mezcal Restaurant San José

# data[].attributes.body
This art work means my heritage and in a way or form it is a representation of myself. As a Mexican this brings so much joy and feeling of proudness. It reflects a little of the beauty Mexico has to offer in the artistic and cultural world.

Primarily, what attracted me to this artwork was the personal connection I have to it. I see myself reflected in this mural. Secondly, the vibrant colors and the warmth they bring to it.

It brings me joy, proudness, determination, resilience, and warmth. It felt like a piece of home away from home. It served as a reminder that we are an amazing culture and have so much diversity to offer.

I loved the warmth of the colors and the richness of the reds and browns used and how authentic to the Mexican colors this mural is. The only thing I disliked was the location. Even though it is on the building of the Mezcal Restaurant, the trash bins are located right there, taking away some of the beauty of this beautiful mural.

Yes, it reminded me of home. It reminded me of the delicious food Mexico has to offer and how the warmth of the colors bring out the smells of a spicy sauce or the sweetness of the mole Pueblano. It is just home in one beautiful mural.

Work cited:

Katra, Daniel. “Aesthetics of Public Art.” Google Search, Google, 2021, https://www.google.com/search?q=alebrijes%2Bmural%2Bsan%2Bjose%2Bca&client=safari&channel=iphone_bm&prmd=imsvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiF0b_41Yn9AhUQAzQIHVpwC2wQ_AUoAXoECAUQAQ&biw=428&bih=746&dpr=3#imgrc=YmLij9EbGV9JqM.

Ridenour , Hunter. “Alebrijes Mural .” Public Art as Resistance in San Jose, San Jose, 6 Apr. 2022, https://www.sjsu.edu/ha-public-art-tour/public-art/alebrijes.php. Accessed 9 Feb. 2023.

# data[].attributes.body
Hello Everyone,
This photo here is one of many Rise and Grind photos by Illuminaries. This specific mural can be found in downtown Oakland. One of the things that I liked the most about this piece of art is how realistic it looks. The details and fine lines all over Stomper(Oakland A's) the mascot look so realistic. Stomper is mainly a cartoon looking figure so this mural brings Stomper to life. Despite the Athletics not being so good last season, this mural makes me proud to be a fellow Californian and happy to be an Oakland A's fan. Most obviously, I was attracted to this mural because of what it consisted of and its theme, the Oakland Athletics. I also consider myself a hard worker and dedicated to what matters most, my family. Therefore, everything that I do I put my all into it to be able to provide for my family. ”Rise and Grind” is a lifestyle and a motto of mine, because it keeps me motivated.

# data[].attributes.body
This is the Quetzalcoatl statue in downtown San Jose or also known a the feathered serpent. This statue was done by Robert Graham in 1993. I choose this statue because I remember every summer walking by it whenever me and my siblings played in the park. I never put to much thought into it because my mom had already told us it was Quetzalcoatl. But once I started researching it I was shocked by the controversy that surrounds it. When it was first installed it drew a lot of criticizing with conservatives and Christian’s that claimed Aztec culture practiced human sacrifice. It even got to the point where a group performed a four day bible reading protest by the statue. Not only that but others have said that its “the poop statue”. It saddens me to learn about this because its a statue that I’ve always liked and found very interesting. And I find it super disrespectful for people to call it the poop statue because to someone else this statue represents their beliefs and culture. After all this statue represents an Aztec god.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a picture that I took of a mural that can be found at the San Jose City College Milpitas Extension. I’m not sure if it has a name or who the specific artists' names are but I do recall that the mural was designed by a group of students and I think they were a big part of the SJCC Extension at the beginning of its creation.

To me, this piece of art represents my education and how I was able to take the first step towards going towards higher education. I take the majority of my classes at the San Jose City College Milpitas Extension, along with this, I also took my very first college class at the San Jose City College Milpitas Extension, and this mural was the first that caught my attention in the building. To me, this mural represents how far I’ve come in my education since first seeing the piece of art.

I think what attracted me to the artwork was how much it stood out in comparison to its surroundings. The San Jose City College Milpitas Extension doesn’t have much color when it comes to the interior of the building, so this mural popped and is the very first thing you see when you walk into the lobby.

I’m not sure if this counts as an emotion, but I think that the best way I could describe the artwork is that it provides a sense of childlike wonder to those who view it. A lot of the message about the piece of art revolved around being creative and letting out your inner creativity so I think that having it provide a sense of imagination to the audience is a really great message, especially on a college campus.

The thing I liked the most about the piece of art is that it showed a very diverse group of people in race, age, and talent as well. I think this shows that everyone can find a way to bring out their creativity and find a way to thrive and that there are many different ways to be creative.

This artwork reminds me a lot of my first time going to a college class and how I felt during that experience. It continued to stick with me and I think that I’m going to miss being able to take a look at the mural regularly.

# data[].attributes.headline
Walkway Garden near the Science Complex Building in SJCC

# data[].attributes.subject
Walkway Garden near the Science Complex Building in SJCC

# data[].attributes.body
What does the artwork mean to you?
What this artwork means to me is happiness, joy and soothe. Looking at this garden relieves me of stress and anxiety. Whenever I have a lot of assignments piling up I often would come to this garden to get some fresh air and relax.
What attracted you to the artwork?
What attracted me to the artwork was I had a class near it and was often 15-20 mins early to the class which means I would spend some time just looking at the plants and trees moving. Also many birds would fly around this area and it was always so interesting trying to see all the different types of birds in this location
What kind of emotions did it bring about?
The emotions this place brought to me are joy, relaxation, and satisfaction because it always brought me a good view on nature. It made me feel delighted to be outdoors.
What do you like or dislike about the artwork? Be specific.
One thing I like about this artwork is it looks alive and looks like a sanctuary where many different forms of life, live and call home such as birds,butterflys and insects.
Did the artwork remind you of anything?
This artwork reminds me like a zoo but without the cages and glass, it makes the experience seem more realistic and authentic.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a statue on campus that really caught my eye as I was walking to class one day. The art caught my eye because it looked like a very interesting design and it was very large. Seeing it honestly brought me a little bit of peace because I was very stressed that day. It forced me to stop and think for a second. I think the statue was representing human senses such as sight, touch, and the way you feel. The sculpture itself was placed in a more empty space which I think was specifically for students to be able to relax and look at peaceful art. There were a lot of trees and grassy area which added to the peace of it. It made me stop and think about what I see in the moment, and what I’m feeling. In that moment I was able to understand my emotions a bit more and calm down and I think that was pretty cool. I really enjoy how the sculpture was 3D and had different levels to it that stuck out more than others. The artwork just reminded me of the 5 senses and maybe egyptian art because of the body.

# data[].attributes.headline
Public Art: Hand in Hand ( CamdenCommunity Center)

# data[].attributes.subject
Public Art: Hand in Hand ( CamdenCommunity Center)

# data[].attributes.body
This public artwork is located on a small rock off the lawn of the Camden Community Center. It's titled "Hand by Hand" and was created by an artist named Michael Stutz in 2005. This artwork means something to me because when I see it I feel at peace and quite special because there is a hand welcoming me. This artwork attracts me as well as impresses me in how
meticulously the artist created this artwork to connect to the metals. Although this work doesn't have many colors to make
them stand out, I still feel this is a beautiful and unique work. When I researched and learned that it was a work depicting
the relationship between adults and children it was a small hand in the middle of a large hand. It makes me feel deep,
warmth, and love for a family. I really like this work because it impressed me the first time I saw it. It made me feel like
someone was waving at me and it looks like my parents' hands are holding my little hands, it contains a lot of love in it. The
artwork reminds me of the times when my parents held my hand when I was young to protect and guide me to become a
good person who can help people around me.

# data[].attributes.body
Hello everyone! The piece of artwork that I chose is actually from a photo I found online. After doing some research and narrowing it down to a few pieces, this is the one I felt most connected to.

This piece of art is called “The Arch of Dignity, Equality and Justice.” It is located at San Jose State University. I was initially interested in this piece because of the meaning behind it. It is a reminder of those who have been denied their basic human rights. This piece of art is based mainly around minorities and the fact that they are not treated equally regardless of the hard work they put out into our communities. I think this art also made me feel a sense of appreciation for those who feel that way. Especially because of the times we have been in over the past few years where at some points it seemed like we went back hundreds of years of progress when it came to the issues surrounding racism and inequality.

I love that this artwork was created by a Chicana artist, activist and scholar. When Judy Baca created this piece, she wanted to represent some of our most hard working men and women who have lived through the inequality and did something to make a change. I also really like that there was enough room on this arch to highlight multiple different people. This art also shows the United Farm Workers symbol which I also thought was really cool. The arch already looks amazing as is but I do think that the bird adds a little more meaning behind it. There’s not really much I can say that I dislike about this piece.

I think that seeing this piece of art makes me feel a sense of pride for those who have come to this country with nothing and have made a great life for themselves. America is full of opportunities and I personally do not see anything wrong with sharing those opportunities with everyone.

https://www.gpsmycity.com/attractions/the-arch-of-dignity--equality-and-justice-45887.html

# data[].attributes.body
This public art installation by Chris Carrillo (2015) which has no official name is located at 2nd st. and Virginia, just 2 blocks south of the 280 freeway in downtown San Jose. It looks like someone tagged over it a little unfortunately.
1. What does the artwork mean to me? This Art installation was commissioned by the City of San Jose to beautify the neighborhoods and help local artists by showcasing their work and paying them for it. I lived 4 houses down in 2015 when Chris painted his diarama of dinosaurs. I got to talk to Chris over the course of about a month while he painted this piece. It meant a lot to me because it was a part of my neighborhood, heck it was on my block. This installation was a marker for me it meant I was home.
2. What attracted me to the artwork? The beautiful colors and the use of different elements such as land, water, and fire which really stood out for me, as well as it humored my inner child's love for dinosaurs
3. What kind of emotions did it bring out in me? The emotions of playfulness were brought out when I saw this piece, it reminded me of being young child and happy playing with my dinosaur toys. Kinda like when I would imagine my inanimate toys coming to life and fighting each other. I felt excited.
4. What do I like or dislike about the artwork? I really like the water scene with all the prehistoric water creatures as I am fond of the ocean; I though the water looked wonderful it wasn't just blue but you could see a current in the water it looked real. What I dislike about it is that someone tagged over part of the installation, its like someone signed their name on a piece they had nothing to do with and ruining it in the process.
5. Did the artwork remind you of anything? The artwork reminded me of history book pictures that lead up to a final picture at the end of a chapter where the dinosaurs are hit by a meteor and go extinct. All the animals are just so peaceful, serene, and oblivious that death is just a turn of the page away. When you see the front its dinosaurs and on the sides more dinosaurs, but on the back panel its the sun setting which could resemble the planet on fire or the end of a life cycle since there are no dinosaurs. So I like to call the installation the Extinction of the Dinosaurs.

# data[].attributes.body
This is the opposite side

# data[].attributes.body
This Artwork can be viewed at Bowden Park in Palo Alto. "Rrrun" was created by Marta Thoma in 2005 and has lived at the edge of Bowen Park, to serve as simply another one of her art instillation of many in the area and as a roadside attraction. Although i dont live in the area, I often times drive by it and just feel so intrigued by a running car, with baby legs and a small belly. Theres not much background information for this statue, but after looking at the surrounding area, This statue is exactly what its portraying - a roadside attraction. It's at the edge of the part in the perfect spot for passing cars to see, in a running position as if the driver was in a race with the car.  It is located in a park where many of the neighborhood's families with young children play, which may explain the baby's legs used to add motion to the cemented vehicle.
The artwork reminds me of other works by Marta Thoma such as "Go, Mama" which can also be found in Palo Alto. Artworks like this can be incredibly subjective when it comes to meaning, but i think thats what makes "weird" art so much fun to look at

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
"Who we Are" -Jennifer Carrier (2021) Electricity Box by Walnut Blossom Dr @jenneeferjuneeper

# data[].attributes.body
This piece of art can be found in the electricity box in between the Oak Grove High School and the apartments by Walnut Blossom Dr. What I take from this piece of art is that each and everyone one of us is unique in a particular way. We each and everyone of us has different thoughts that make us different from one another. What caught my attention of this was how each side face has different facial features that show the diversity in this world and how we are all unique in a way. It honestly brought me emotions of being proud of who I am because I personally feel like if I was just normal and didn't have a personality it would be boring to not relate with anyone. I really like how they captured the idea of multiple people with different thoughts in a box I think it shows how generations have evolved over the course of the years to accept peoples different thoughts.The art work kind of reminded me of the things that I enjoy the most like watching sunsets and the clear night skies are something that I enjoy. When i watch these scenes during the right time of day it almost makes me wish for time to stop and for me to stay there surrounded by my family and friends.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
A, E, I, O, U And Sometimes Why? by Samuel Rodriguez (2019)

# data[].attributes.body
I felt that the mural depicted the imagination of a young child. Young people are the future faces of the world and they have so many interesting ideas inside of them. The vivid colors and the abstract shapes really help convey this message well. This mural is located on the front of the Edenvale Library and I believe it's the first library I've ever visited. I have a lot of memories with this library, but the building itself is pretty dull. The walls, both inside and out, have no color and life to them, so when this mural was finished, I thought it was really nice to have a representation of the imagination I had inside the library when I was younger. It also reminded me of how I would fantasize about the certain situations I was reading about in my fiction books when I was at the library. I enjoy the whole mural, but when I first saw it, I disliked the fact that there was a tree blocking it. You can't see it from the angle that I took the picture, but you can see the shadow of the tree. It wasn't until I learned the name of the mural that I made more sense of the artist's placement. Because of the tree's shape, it looks like a letter "Y." This only made me love the mural even more because besides the artist used a piece of natural life to make it into art, as well. It only goes to show that you can be beautifully creative with any resource you have.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Phylum of the Free by Jeffrey Andrade Hemming (2015)

# data[].attributes.body
I chose the mural “Phylum of the Free” in downtown San Jose, at the crossing of S. First Street and Fountain Alley. I enjoy longboarding through downtown San Jose, as there is so much art to see in one ride. San Jose’s downtown has been criticized in the past of being to sparse or sterile, lacking in culture. Initiatives have been made to revitalize and redecorate the downtown area, and it shows.

It seems now that any and every opportunity has been taken to rebrand the downtown with visual art. Most impactfully murals, wether they show the Mexican history and culture of San Jose or the birth of the tech industry in Silicon Valley. This mural was painted by Jeffrey Andrade Hemming   was paid for by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office and a group of downtown businesses.

To me this art symbolizes an uneasy balance between nature and man. It shows majestic giraffes wandering along a lonely freeway, towards a city of junk. On the left we see people at work, engineers and scientists assembling a spacecraft, as San Jose has a history and legacy in computing and technology. On the right we see people at leisure, surfing on the coast. I love surfing. The giraffes are seen moving toward them but are divided by a city of junk. While people and their achievements frame the mural, the center shoes our impact on nature. Ultimately this brings about feelings of achievement, relaxation, and ultimately self-reflection on the way our culture is affecting the planet. This artwork and its surfers remind me of the Santa Cruz Coast. The giraffes remind me of the paintings of Salvador Dali.

I really appreciate the murals use of a strong and precise color palette while also featuring so many different subjects and symbols. I think that strong color balancing leads to exceptionally impactful art presentation. I have been studying hair color as a stylist for seven years, and now a color out of place really stands out and bothers me. What ‘isn’t there’ is just as important as what ‘is there.’ Most collections of differing objects for symbolism appear to me too cluttered or too colorful, like a children’s play area. This mural shows many subjects while adhering to a strict color palette, a commendable feat.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
PHYLUM OF THE FREE Jeffrey Andrade Hemming

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Quetzalcóatl Sculpture, Robert Graham, Downtown San Jose

# data[].attributes.body
1. What does the art work means to you?

1. This artwork doesn't have a symbolic meaning to me, but I look at this sculpture and think about the time and dedication it took to create something like this. I admire the effort that went into it.

2. What attracted you to the artwork?

1. I see it quite often in downtown SJ when I'm at the Tech museum, or Christmas in the park, or the Turkey Trot, or the Santa run, whenever there's an event downtown. As a kid, I liked to climb on it and stand on it while my parents took pictures, so It's been a constant for me for a long time. As a piece of art, I really admire the skill that it takes to create something like this, and it really kind of just looks cool too.

3. What kind of emotions did it bring about?

1. The main emotion that I feel when I look at it is awe. I really don't think that I'll be able to create something like this in the future, and there's really not a whole lot of people on the planet that could. Because of this, the fact that this sculpture exists impresses me.

4. What do you like or dislike about the artwork? Be specific.

1. This might sound odd, but I like how flat the back of the snake is, and the detail on the scales/feathers of the back. It's like the creator intended it to be climbed on by eight year olds, because it's perfect for that. The detail and size of the fangs and teeth also really impress me. Something I don't like about the sculpture is the tail. The design on it doesn't look quite "right", and I think the sculpture would look better if the tail didn't show at all.

5. Did the artwork remind you of anything?
This art doesn't remind me of a separate piece of art, but instead reminds me of downtown SJ, because I see it pretty often when I'm there.

# data[].attributes.body
This painting was done by Levi Ponse, in Los Angeles. I chose this painting because it means so much to the community. Nipsey Hussle loved embracing his blackness. He was a motivational person. He inspired everyone to be nothing but great and to never give up. Another thing I loved about him was that he wasn’t afraid to speak his truth. He was Los Angeles and will forever be remembered for the person he was. This painting is meaningful to me because I have similar history that Nipsey Hussle experienced as a child. The messages he has sent across the world will forever be noticed.

“It sounds simple telling people to work hard and never quit, but to really execute and demonstrate those principles takes discipline and faith.” Nipsey Hussle.

# data[].attributes.body
Hi everyone here’s a little piece of a small town since there’s not much here in terms of art but I did manage to find this hidden gem. I love murals in small city’s in general because it tells a little about the city like this one is just a banner indicating the historical museum that is open to the public so they are free to learn about the city and how it was before and how it came to be. I love how all the colors come together and it’s bold and expressive to draw people in and make them curious on the history of the town even though I don’t know much about it, it makes me curious to find out how people use to be here and how they built this town since. I’ve heard it didn’t start with much and had opened its first postal office in 1873 and was initially first a trading post and then got the idea to name it los banos after a nearby creek as said in Wikipedia.  It does remind me of many art I used to see in my own hometown and around the city like where the San Jose sharks would play there were painted sharks and it was bold and expressive because it described a part of a community. And that’s why I think each mural is special because it tells a little history of a city and community that many people may not know or might find interesting.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
 New Wall on 8th & Empire Street in San Jose, California. 

# data[].attributes.body
This public artwork murals was created by Samuel Rodriguez born on March 16, 1981 in downtown Street in San Jose California I have never been there before at the art community ever since maybe one day I will visit their artwork community place empire street in San Jose Visual  murals forms  beautiful art piece  wall size is long wide This artwork showcase exploration of the carry display different types wondrous worlds uses murals fresco mosaic graffiti marouflage encaustic stained glass or photography ceramics tempera painting ceiling it also reflects  the greeting space creates for the community but then this art piece calm joyful happies feeling warm with the images of flowers and the presence of the flowers pigeon croissant butterfly house stars it show a mix of together fantasy realistic add colors shades paints portrayals both flowers pigeon croissant butterfly house stars and nature for the peaceful project moods Public Art Project. I love how details realistic structure tinge look in the paints vibrant dark light  blue paints for used for the sky. I also like how the artist paints daytime and below paints the night time use for blends brightness look good. this artwork remind me  of the wanted go visited at the empire street art studio community see beautiful art piece wall create it painter to interviews and also take photo or image together walls

# data[].attributes.body
1. I love this piece of artwork. It’s a sculpture designed to look like a Tornado of Guitars at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, Washington. This was my favorite piece I saw throughout the entirety of my Seattle trip, because music of a few different genres have always been held quite close to my heart. There are a couple of guitarists in particular that I really love: Carlos Santana and Prince. This sculpture reminded me of one of my best friends, Ben, who we lost unexpectedly in January of 2022. Ben was a very talented guitarist, so I couldn’t help but think of him when I saw it.

2. What attracted me to this artwork was it’s mere size. It’s massive, and the picture doesn’t do it justice. It’s literally the one piece in the entire museum that you can’t miss. I also love the variety of different guitars that make up the tornado - there’s acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and even a few non-guitars in the sculpture.

3. This sculpture made me feel quite emotional, for reasons that I mentioned in question 1. It reminded me of Ben. It reminded me of the passion and the love that he felt for music, but especially music that was made featuring the guitar prominently.

4. I love the variety of different instruments utilized in constructing the musical tornado. I love the different, vibrant colors that each of those instruments contributes to the sculpture. I mean this in a good way - I love how obnoxious and “in your face” the sculpture is, and I think the size of the sculpture has a lot to do with that. You literally can’t miss it walking through the Museum of Pop Culture.

5. It reminded me of many of the great musicians that have graced the stage throughout musical history. It reminded me of Jimi Hendrix, who was a Seattle native and one of the best guitarists of all time. It reminded me of Santana and Prince. It reminded me of Stevie Ray Vaughan, one of my dad’s all time favorite guitarists; and above all else, it reminded me of Ben.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Rock, Paper, Scissors by Lauren Ys, Tatiana Suarez, and Cara To Found in SF Market and South Van Ness 

# data[].attributes.body
When it comes to this piece of art I still have yet to grasp a complete meaning of it but i can tell you what attracted me and drew me in. The things that captivated me with this piece of art would be the flurry of colors and the "chaos" that it gives off. The reason I say it's giving off chaos is that there's so much going on inside of this mural and you have to focus on one thing at a time or there's so much to take in you can't take in this whole piece at once. Now when it comes to the emotions I first felt when looking at this mural would be anxiousness, overwhelmed, and curiosity. Taking a dive into those feelings like anxiousness the reason I said this was because there's so much going on my mind doesn't know what to focus on and with that, my mind runs wild and won't calm down and that ties into the feeling of being overwhelmed. After I could calm down my mind a bit I became curious about what it all meant and what it was trying to represent. For likes and dislikes on this piece of art what I liked about it would be how it could spark my curiosity and kinda scratch that itch. dislikes for it would be how bright it is for me I like things less "loud" because I like a nice mellow lifestyle. Now reminding of something would be just chaos itself because of all the things that are going on in this one spot. Rock, Paper, Scissors

# data[].attributes.body
This painting was located in a utility box in San Jose's Japantown on 4th and Jackson St by Orly Loquiao in 2012. I was attracted to this artwork because of the bright red color of the daruma doll. Daruma dolls are traditional Japanese dolls that represent good luck. This artwork symbolizes perseverance so I take it as I can accomplish any goal, I set my mind to. The emotions that I got from this piece was hopeful and ambitious. I do not have a dislike on this painting. I do like that the daruma doll has one eye painted. The meaning behind the blank eye is that once a person commits to a goal, they can paint one eye. Once the goal is achieved both eyes can be painted. This artwork reminds me of my dad. My dad is always telling me that I can achieve my dreams and goals as long as I put in hard work and dedication and never give up.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Saxe, J. (2005). Window Box #1. Berryessa Branch Library   

# data[].attributes.body
This public artwork is created by Joe Saxe in 2005. It is located at the Berryessa Branch Library in San Jose. I have been going to this library ever since I was a child, so I would occasionally see this beautiful art piece. This artwork showcases the exploration of books and the wondrous worlds they carry, displaying different books on the vines of a tree. It also reflects the welcoming space the library creates for the community. This art piece produces a warm, calming feeling with the images of nature, and the presence of books. It expresses a mix of fantasy and realistic portrayals. Both books and nature project a peaceful mood. I love how realistic the details look in the painting and the vibrant green colors used for the leaves. I also like how the artist painted a sun to represent daytime and below, painted the night sky. It signifies how you could easily get lost in books. The artwork reminds me of the nostalgic days when I was a child and visited this library very often after school.

# data[].attributes.body
The artwork in my opinion shows the audience how behind every animal there is a backbone of what the animal represents which in this case, the San Jose shark shows us the backbone of San Jose.

What attracted me to the artwork was my love for the San Jose Sharks and when I heard you could see the mural from the SAP Center I knew it would be a staple in the San Jose community. To me, the mural gives me the pride to see San Jose as a strong and proud community just with the representation of a fierce Shark. I really enjoy the detail of the California license plate, a fish skeleton, a hockey stick, and an old hockey mask in the shark's stomach. The artwork reminded me of a skeleton of a human and I imagine myself as the shark and picture myself with what I would have in my stomach. The mural was made by Nychos in 2019 to honor the 25th season of the San Jose Sharks.

# data[].attributes.headline
A,E,I,O, U AND SOMETIMES WHY? MURAL BY Samuel Rodriguez(2019)

# data[].attributes.subject
A,E,I,O, U AND SOMETIMES WHY? MURAL BY Samuel Rodriguez(2019)

# data[].attributes.body
1. What does the art work means to you? To me it means coming together as one.

2. What attracted you to the artwork? The boy was the first thing that attracted me along with the vibrancy of the artwork. The overall color choice was an alluring sight to me.

3. What kind of emotions did it bring about? The art makes me feel warm and safe. A sense of peace and calm.

4. What do you like or dislike about the artwork? Be specific. I like the way he spelled out A,E,I,O,U he there is so much going on in the work that you could stare at this work for hours going through it all.

5. Did the artwork remind you of anything? Nothing in particular but it does remind me a bit of one of Picasso's works.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
After extensive searching for the name of the artwork, I came to the conclusion that the artist did not name their art.

# data[].attributes.headline
24th Mission Street Mural by Nigel Sussman

# data[].attributes.subject
24th Mission Street Mural by Nigel Sussman

# data[].attributes.body
Soon after seeing the mural I could tell the artist was trying to portray a sense of community because that was exactly what I felt. By analyzing the mural I was seeing a small part of the city through Nigel’s eyes; more importantly the major locations. I was attracted to this piece of art because of how vibrant the mural is. The picture I have of the mural is at night so the colors do not pop as much, however in the daytime the bubblegum pink brightens the street. To me it creates a joyful, playful, and colorful environment. The feel this mural produced had me smiling from the moment I saw it. I come to this area quite often to visit my friend and everytime I pass by this mural I admire it. Staring at the art reminds me of my friend, her family, and their community. The only thing I dislike about this painting is that there is so much more that can be incorporated, but is not painted because of the limited space. I enjoyed this mural so much that I found the artist on instagram. After looking through their posts, I was able to become more aware of how the artist incorporated their personal art style into this mural.

# data[].attributes.body
Free art work I’d like to share is the SCC Fairgrounds Murals. Painted by Lila Gamellos (whom I worked for as an art intern in 2017 when she painted them) ! Each county also had their own artist come in and paint along side Lila as well. I love each mural. I firmly believe each artist did an astonishing job and put a tremendous amount of effect into them in such a short amount of time. They truly are amazing and have gift from god.These murals mean a lot to me it brings back the best memories of when I was younger and I had my first jobs. I love to have options so the fact that we’re so many I couldn’t pick I just had to share a long side picture lol. These murals brought out so many good happy emotions. Makes me also feel thankful to be  experienced them being painted. I like the fact that each mural was painted by artist in that county. This art work reminded me of when I was a kid and when to the children’s discover museum . All the colors just brought back so many great memories.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
"Visions of Lincoln" by Viktor Verhovod (2016)

# data[].attributes.body
This mural is actually a three piece mural however I chose just one section to show you so that you could see the detail closer up. It is located in Old Town Lincoln on a market wall.
1. I am not from Lincoln originally but moved here about five years ago and love the town. It has grown so much and has some really cool history so I love this mural in a way honors the history and evolution of the town while honoring the hard workers who built this town and made it what it is today.
2. I was mainly attracted to the colors that were used in this mural. I love how it is pastel toned but also has the dark blue shadowing. I was also attracted to how soft the mural was while also being so busy and packed with different images.
3. I feel like the bright yellow light poking through the all the workers and their settings gives the painting a hopeful feeling to it. It also looks kind of etherial with the pastel colors and almost dream like which would make sense for the name "Visions of Lincoln".
3. I don't really dislike anything about this mural. I think its unique and cool that its split into three different images rather than one big mural. I also liked the brush work with the mix of lots of blending but also sharp lines and shapes to make up the painting.
4. It reminds me of like a roll of film through time with snapshots of each scene of the development of Lincoln.

# data[].attributes.body
I've worked at Vietnam town in San Jose for over a year now, but I never had the chance to walk around it and look at the art located around the area and the grand century mall located next door. But after seeing this assignment, I decided to take a look around. Thats when I came across two Shi Shi lions located at the front entrance of the mall. My attention instantly went towards them, and I tried figuring out the artist, but I couldn't find any information. This artwork means something to me because it shows art is everywhere, all you have to do is look for it. What attracted me to the sculpture was the detail and age of the piece, you could tell it had been here for a while. But even after enduring the harsh weather, it was still holding on strong. The lion statues are meant to guard places and get rid of evil spirts, as for emotions, I think I felt cleansed after being near it. As I mentioned earlier, I really liked the detail of the sculpture, more specifically the lion mane. It curves and has many circles within circles causing an illusion like affect. One thing I disliked about the statue was how un kept it was, maybe the mall could get someone to clean it every now and then. However, I also think the fact it looks old and weathered ads to the statue since it is meant to be a guardian. The artwork reminded me of the lunar new year lions/dragons that do performances.

# data[].attributes.body
The artwork that I chose was a peacock Christmas tree located in the Honolulu State capital. During Christmas the Honolulu city lights are notorious for having decorated Christmas trees for everyone to see. Some themed such as Mario, legos, and even Pokémon. The peacock christmas tree I choose displays creativity on how unique you can decorate your Christmas tree. The Peacock replaced the star atop and the ribbons and ornaments creating the feel of a simple ,but elaborate feathers for its tail. The tree really brings emphasis to the peacock as the other decorations on the ground are just smaller chickens and birds. The colors of blue relate to a peacock's natural color in the wild ,but also having the feel of dominance and beauty over the smaller dull birds at the bottom. The lights being blue and yellow create a good contrast and match perfectly with the feathers as well. The artwork reminds me of the zoo, especially me since I like to interact with animals. The peacock expresses the true beauty that can be found in the wild.

Artist - N/A

Name - N/A

# data[].attributes.body
Although I was not able to get a picture of this art piece myself, I think it is one of the public art pieces that I enjoy the most. It is a very popular painting in Los Angelos and thousands of people have taken a picture in front of these wings. The message behind this painting is what makes its so beautiful. The Global Angel Wing Project started in Los Angelos but there are locations all over the world that have a painting as wings as well. The message behind this painting is to remind us that we are the angels of earth. I love the color palette that Colette chose for the wings. I think the dark purple and blue bends really nice, and the white really stands out on the pink background. I think the colors are very aesthetically please which is why so many people have taken pictures in front of this wall. I also like that she sketched out her drawing because even though it has imperfections, it's still a beautiful painting which was also part of her message. I wish she would have used brighter colors or retouched her painting because it is a lot more faded from people touching it and just from age.

# data[].attributes.body
During my research, I found that this piece of art work is about 3 miles from my house. I've been to this shopping center 2 or three times, but I never paid attention to it. The thing that caught my eye was that I didn't know what it was the first time I looked at the picture, so I had to do a double take. After I read the caption and read the description, I understood what the the sculpture represented. My interpretation of the sculpture was to pay homage to the farming and agricultural background that many people the Hispanic community come from. Based on my experiences with the Hispanic community, many have parents or grandparents who worked the fields, had ranches, or farms. The arms represent the many hands that it takes to grow and harvest a crop and there are many hands that work together to make a community. I feel like this sculpture depicts the hardworking hands of the people who make the land fertile.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Tourist attraction in Los Angeles, California

# data[].attributes.body
As someone who's a true lakers fan, this mural means so much to me as Kobe was a man of dignity and respect who left a legacy.

Kobe Bryant Mural by Jonas Never
What does the artwork means to you? This artwork truly tells a alot to me because growing up Kobe bryant was one of my favorite basketball players and to see this mural it genuinely brings happiness and motivation into my life.

1. What attracted you to the artwork? It's very unique and vibrant: the quality of this picture isn't the best but trust me in person it was way better. Their quotes and words are motivating and written all over the mural to honor the once great kobes legacy.

2. What kind of emotions did it bring about? Happiness, joy, love, sincerity, and sadness. With kobes death in 2020, Iwas in shock and sadness.

3. What do you like or dislike about the artwork? Be specific. the artwork is located in a bad spot where a lot of random people touch it which ends up ruining the mural. I also dislike the black color the mural contains.

4. Did the artwork remind you of anything? it reminded me of my goals in life, my actions, my regrets, my fears, and failures which all are factors in success Kobe once said failure is temporary and success comes with hard work. I stand by that quote.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Located near the city hall plaza, downtown San Jose

# data[].attributes.body
The art peace was created by lead artist Rob jensen, co-lead Warren Trezevant, and design by Stockhausen. The peace was finalised by march of 2018 and catches the eye of many the pass by. throughout my earlier highschool days, I loved to ride my bike with friends around San Jose. One day we came across the art peace and the first thought I had was" I wanna ride through that thing." There are lights that interact with one and other to create a beautiful strand of color. I did ride through it and it felt great. From that day whenever we rode in that area we made sure to ride right through it like a tunnel. It made me feel alot of happiness as it's a really visually appealing peace to look at from the center. I would feel amazing leaving the colorful tunnel often riding off to a new spot to hang out with friends. I really liked the way the colors transitioned through each ring. It made wave like movements of many colors. Whenever I rode my bike through it, It reminded me of the millennium falcon going into lightspeed in star wars. It felt like I was riding through a wormhole, It was awesome.

# data[].attributes.body
This mural really touched my heart, being a mother of two wonderful children in different stages of their lives. My daughter being 14 and my son being 5. This mural shows that our children are our future and shows the smile in the girls face of hope and the hand holding the world next to her, in my perspective, shows the children that the world is theirs and they can make a difference. This was really an emotional picture of the art because of so many meanings it can be, but that is what I got out of it and really LOVE it. The artist is David Hill and he really hill the nail on the head for the children of our future.  1.     What does the art work means to you? I love this mural in downtown San Jose. It represents Hispanics and natives in the community and shows a young girl who looks happy and next to her is a hand holding a globe meaning the world is hers and we can concur anything at any age starting even young which can bring hope to a young individual.

2.     What attracted you to the artwork? The fact that being at any age, you can concur the world and there is hope with our growing minorities.

3.     What kind of emotions did it bring about? It brings a lot of emotions to me because as a young girl, I felt like I didn’t think that I can change the world or make an impact. Having a 14-year-old that is very strong minded myself, she reminds me of my daughter. Issabellas is her name. Issabella believes that she will make a difference in our community by being a minority brain surgeon and she wants to attend Stanford University and follow her dreams. This little girl reminds me of my daughter, strong willed and motivated. She will be attending Christo Rey High School next year which will help her achieve these goals since it is work experience/ high school.

4.     What do you like or dislike about the artwork? Be specific. As I said before, it shows the world in the hands of a child. What I don’t like is they should of included other minority races and sexes such as boys and other of color to involve others in this “hope” for a better life and success.

Did the artwork remind you of anything? This artwork reminds me of our future. Our future are our children and the other children around us. Proper guidance and education access will assist our world to be better in the future.

I found this art on San_Jose_Public_Art_David_Hill_-9947.jpg (1500×1000) (stateoflight.com)

# data[].attributes.body
Established in 1992, built as a part of an exhibition of San Francisco's Landscape and Design Show, the park offers a real life, jumbo sized creation of the board game, "Monopoly." I see this as a beautiful public art space as it creates a home-y, nostalgic feel to it, displaying hands on activities and open spaces to roam freely with your friends or family. To me, artwork can be shown through any shape or form. Words can be art. While physical appearances do matter, it's more of the feeling the art provides. This public affair provides a reminisce of my childhood as I always grew up playing Monopoly with my family, therefore, it brought out a lot of happy emotions as I had only discovered it recently even though I've lived in San Jose all my life. What I enjoyed about the artwork was that it offered a big open space where you could physically play the game, similar to those jumbo chess puzzles you see around town, however, some things I didn't enjoy about the artwork was that it seemed bland in a way, missing more center pieces that tie in the original game. Although there was a lot of detail put into the public space itself, it seemed that there was something missing, though it could be just the fact that I've always been a die hard Monopoly fan.