Why I Chose This Example: 

This is a display of art that I see on my walk to work. On my way walking up a hill to the preschool I work at, I pass by the school's middle school who created this display with their art teacher. I have talked to the middle school's art teacher, she said that it was created last year but they are constantly changing and adding to it. I love this piece of visual art display since it was created by young people to represent the school, their community, and the unity of the project to put pieces to decorate their school. 

3. What elements In The Art That You Notice: 

There are many elements to this visual art that I noticed, one of which is the lines vary. Some are straight and curved, while the most recent bowl added is a swirl of blurring lines of yellow and blue. I noticed that the shape of the planks that the student drew on to represent the community are in the shape of a top of a house, it gave me a message that school is their "second home." They also assigned students to form two pieces of art with the goal of replicating the piece of art after themselves hence why you see the boy and the girl created and painted by the children. There is value in this message they are spreading especially placing this in the space of their school. The texture is that of thin wooden planks, so a little rough with paint on it. 

Angus was born and raised in Oakland, California. He was an inspiration to many as he became a famous face in the entertainment industry. I noticed that this mural brought a lot of people from the community together and was treated with respect. This mural consists of many colors; both warm and cool tones. We can see brighter colors like yellow, pink, white, and red. Then we can see some quieter colors like blue and green. The contrast between the image of Angus and the background is very noticeable. Especially since there is a white shadow around him in the mural which showcases the value of this mural as well. I also appreciated the shapes. The combination of geometric shapes made with various colors creates a vibrant and interesting art piece. Lastly, I thought it was amazing that this art piece used space to invite people to sign the mural and leave messages for Angus, seen on the right side of the mural. Overall, this is a very beautiful mural and it was appreciated by the community.

I chose this mural from Weibel Elementary School because I will always walk past it when I am walking to volunteer in my former resource teacher's classroom every Thursday and Friday. This mural accurately represents the lively community that goes on at Weibel and also shows that this school is a fun place to play and learn. The mural is very personal to me because it was designed when I was a fifth grader at Weibel and it was drawn and painted when I was in sixth grade. And it was completed by the time that the sixth grade class that I was part of was graduating so in a way it was our graduation mural from our beloved elementary school back in 2012. Some of the art elements I noticed that were shown on the mural include the paintings of the 3 children each doing a different body movement. The child who has yellow hair and is wearing a red shirt and yellow pants is doing squats on a black mat underneath the rainbow and next to the child has a girl who is hoisting up the Weibel flag on the pole and finally there is a child who is sitting underneath two trees and reading a book. Every time when I see this mural both as a student and now a volunteer it really inspires me to work at a school that is lively and bright. Both the smiling sun and the rainbow greatly represent Weibel as bright, fun, and most importantly a school where the children can let their dreams for what they want do in future run. I also believe that this mural at Weibel is one of a kind and is a clear representation of the community that this school has. In conclusion, this mural is very beautiful and well made and it is highly appreciated by the whole Weibel community and the neighborhood surrounding it.

In the summer, when I visited the SF Mission District near Clarion Alley in June 2018 with my deaf friends who were curious to see about different mural arts in the Mission District. Today I chose one of the different murals in Clarion Alley called “Las Mission/Block Party”. I viewed the SF Mural Mission Block Party by Muralist Marina Perez-Wong and collaborated with the mural arts program students in 2010. La Mission/Block Party is in Clarion Alley, Mission District SF. I noticed the different elements of the use of bright colors to capture the energetic and lively atmosphere of a La Mission block party is one standout feature. Artists frequently use a striking color scheme to evoke the joy, camaraderie, and variety that define these kinds of gatherings. Vibrant colors like reds, yellows, blues, and greens are commonly employed to depict the neighborhood's rich ethnic diversity and celebratory atmosphere. I noticed that another important aspect is the representation of different personalities and settings that highlight the cosmopolitan nature of La Mission and its block celebrations. Artists frequently portray individuals attending these celebrations, dancing, eating, and mingling together, despite their differences in backgrounds. This diversity is mirrored in the artwork's depictions of various activities and customs, as well as in the people portrayed. Moreover, musicians and dancers are frequently incorporated by artists into their depictions of La Mission block celebrations. These pieces of art frequently feature scenes of people having a good time celebrating, dancers dancing to the beat of the drum, and musicians performing traditional instruments. These works effectively portray the lively motions and expressions that characterize a La Mission block party, which are marked by rhythm, pleasure, and a sense of community.

I chose this mural because I always drive by it and I feel like it represents my culture. This painting reminds me a lot of the times where I have dressed in similar clothing and even performed a traditional dance as well. This mural is located in an area where there are a lot of people who have a Hispanic or Latin ethnicities, so I think it’s great that it’s in a busy street where a lot of people can see it and feel the community representation as well as promote diversity and inclusion.

The elements of art that I notice are color, because the artist seemed to have used different bright colors for the different types of flowers and in the dresses the women wear. The shapes also appear to be more round instead of sharp and edgy which make it more welcoming.

I chose this mural because I walk down this hallways everyday at work and when it first appeared on the wall, it immediately caught my attention. I had to stop and look at the whole mural from afar and then up close. I had to look at each picture, each name and each picket sign. This mural was created by the two 5th grade classes at my school for Black History Month. This is a powerful message that brings attention to the victims of racial injustice in the U.S.

The elements of this visual art I notice are line, shape, color, texture and space. This mural takes up a really big chunk of space in the hallway. It’s rectangular and has several straight lines. They used gray photos of the victims and used color for the background and picket signs to show the contrast. I also noticed some of the BHM colors were used for the names - black, red and green. Lastly, the brick background paper added texture which I think was a cool touch to the mural.

In the first mosaic, we can see cooler colors such as green and blue, and various shapes and textures are used all around. The second mosaic is very similar but instead uses warmer colors including red, orange, and yellow.

-Najwa Ali

In the first mosaic, we can see cooler colors such as green and blue, and various shapes and textures are used all around. The second mosaic is very similar but instead uses warmer colors including red, orange, and yellow.

-Najwa Ali

Driving by this everyday caught my eye on how vibrant the colors were. Not only the vibrant colors but the details of the art work. The elements in the art that I noticed was dance were the arms flowed in the mural. It also had the element of visual art.

2. I chose this mural that is in Oakland because it represents people who immigrated to the US. I did some research about this mural and turns out the artists also partnered with Oakland International High School students to complete this mural. I really loved the colors and textures of this mural when I first saw it. The hands holding on to the boat was also interesting to me. As soon as I saw this mural for the first time my exact thoughts on it were either people seeking refuge in a safe country or people on an immigration journey. It reminded me of so many families that migrated to the U.S. to seek better life styles for their children and themselves.

3. The elements that I saw in this mural were the lines, shapes colors, and textures. The space as well adds an interesting elements because it's in a parking lot where people can park and at the same time be able to take a minute to admire the artwork.

With every step I take in life, I want thank everyone who cared to invest time and energy in teaching me to be patient and generous with my time, because having patience is a valuable quality to be kind, teaching me that my job in life was to learn and know myself. It is here I can honor my heart's desires; I know that my best work comes from enjoying the humor in relationship between timing and the shapes of my shadows. I will always sing free to the colors of my emotions, I will continue to dance with every rhythm of my music bank, I have a vault to store my other art forms that are more intimate in nature, which can give me additional protection and peace of mind.

Life: Public Art -Utility Box Art

I have many advantages to being bicultural / Bilingual such as having a greater number of social networks, being aware of cultural differences, taking part in the life of two or more cultures, being an advocate of my cultures and using my language skills and communication skills to participate in the ongoings dialogs need to support my community members. I am inspired by the energy, the public spaces and rhythm of life while living in the city of San Leandro Ca.

I chose this art piece because it is located in my neighborhood park. I wasn't able to take clear pictures because it's been raining, so this is a picture from the internet. I am always fascinated by this "tree" when I am in the park. The "leaves" are made with glasses, metals, and CDs. Under the right sunlight, I often see the tree reflect the light and sparkle. When the wind blows strongly enough, the "leaves" hit and create some tinging sounds. While I often see this piece, I didn't know much about this art piece. After some research, I found out that this is called "Green Tree" by Bill Gould. It is made to mimic a willow tree. What made this tree "green" is that all the materials from this piece were recycled and donated by the locals. I think it makes Green Tree more meaningful as it represents the community and the importance of upcycling.

This art contains visual art elements, including shape, form, and color. I can see the root of the tree and the branches have spheres, and the "leaves" are made from materials with different shapes (e.g., circular CDs). All the materials represent a form of a willow tree. The "leaves" are made with colorful materials, like different colors of glasses, and the CDs have smaller drawings on them. Additionally, "Green Tree" also includes music, as the "leaves" can make sounds when there is wind.

I notice that the mural "Culutra, Suenos, y Sanacion" has many elements of art considering it's an art piece in the first place. What "Culutra, Suenos, y Sanacion" means in english is "Culture, Dreams, and Healing", which is what the mural artist is trying to depict here. The mural uses bright bold colors to make it feel lively, while also being strong as well. Warm colors such as red, and orange stand out here against the colors blue, and green, which basically makes a general contrast of color mixing. There are also curved lines in the tree branches and music notes that helps the viewer guide their eyes across the wall as if everything in the art piece is moving. The mural also has repeated shapes like circles in the drums and fruits, which ends up creating a feel of rhythm. The light and shadow in the mural also add depth, which is basically around in the center where 2 figures are embracing. This ends up making the main focus be around where the child is holding the rainbow kite, while the other person is raising a torch.

The people in the mural "Culutra, Suenos, y Sanacion" also appear to be having movement and energy as well. As the people in the mural lift their arms high enough upwards, which suggest that their signifying hope and strength at once. The drums and music notes in the mural also appear to serve it's purpose in making it feel like it's musical, and full of rhythm. In other words it's almost like a song is painted on the wall.

There are different symbols in the mural "Culutra, Suenos, y Sanacion" that lets us know that it's trying to tell us a story. That story being that the tree represents growth, the butterfly shows change, and the book stands for education. Than there's the torch representing knowledge, the hummingbird that suggest strength, and the corn showing cultural roots of the people themselves. But in all, the mural "Culutra, Suenos, y Sanacion" is trying to convey the message of pride, unity, culture, healing, and also the community as a whole through a sense of working together as one.

2)I decided to choose this example because all around my community there are so many different forms of art that were created by the community. However, the art I chose was a Utility Box that is covered with the paint of the design of strawberries. The artists that created the art are Liberty High School students of the (PADA) Public Art Design Academy in 2013.

3)The strawberry utility box art represents the elements of Visual Art, the art includes color, historical references, symbolism, value, texture, lines, shape and form. The art was to represent the value, symbolism, and historical references of the agriculture all around the community from all the farms that help grow the product for the community. The utility box texture brightens the shape, the form of line and color of how the artists created the life of creating an art mural. 

Location: Brentwood Boulevard and Second Street

References

Public Art Attachments 

2026 Public Art and Design Academy Project Presentation

I chose these two artworks because I was drawn to their strong use of color and movement. The stained-glass style painting feels symbolic and layered, almost spiritual, while the outdoor metal sculpture feels playful and alive, responding to wind and space. Together, they show two very different ways artists create energy and expression—one through intricate design and symbolism, the other through physical motion and environment.

Elements I Notice:

In the stained-glass inspired painting, I notice strong line and shape. The bold black lines divide the surface into geometric sections, creating repetition and rhythm. The use of color is highly saturated—bright yellows, blues, reds, and greens create strong contrast. The circular sun in the center acts as a clear focal point, and the radial composition guides the viewer’s eye outward, creating visual movement. The flat but carefully shaded areas show attention to value, while the mosaic-like sections create a sense of texture. There also seems to be symbolism, especially in the sun and symmetrical structure, suggesting unity or harmony.

In the metal wind sculpture, I notice strong use of form and space. The curved metal pieces create organic shapes that feel balanced but asymmetrical. The bright red and magenta elements contrast against the open blue sky, creating emphasis and strong color contrast. There is implied movement, and if activated by wind, it would involve time, energy, and action (similar to dance elements). The open sky creates expansive negative space, which enhances the sculpture’s lightness and freedom. The reflective metal surfaces also create interesting texture and changes in value depending on the light.

Both works use contrast, rhythm, repetition, and emotional expression, but in very different ways—one through structured pattern and symbolism, and the other through motion and environmental interaction.

I chose this piece of art because it represents the main components of the city of Dublin. If there was someone who moved to Dublin and didn’t know what to do, they can review this mural and find something. I also believe this was painted by a child, which builds up their confidence in their skill ability. I notice the use of thin, thick, and in between sized lines. The artist used each part of the space provided to include other elements of Dublin. The texture appears to be rough which possibly made it for difficult painting.

2) I drive past this mural almost everyday. The "dream big" mural is located in Downtown Livermore. I love the message that this mural displays. For young students, this mural can inspire them to set goals and dreams that they can accomplish in their future. I also like that the mural has paintings of astronauts. Young children can look at this mural and think, "wow I want to be like them some day!".

3) This background of the mural is dark, so the light colored rockets and bright colors of the astronaut suits really pop. Although it is hard to tell in the photo, the mural is painted on a brick building. Looking at the mural up-close you can see the textures and lines of the brick. The mural includes planets in the shape of circles, half-circles, and ovals. There are also small stars painted. The name-tags on the astronaut uniforms are rectangles and squares.

1) I decided to use this sculpture which is name Truth is Beauty because is close to my house and before when I use to take the San Leandro Bart I always saw it, and i thought it was a great piece.

2) This sculpture piece represents the elements of visual art, dance and music. First, visual art; it shows different lines, form, shape and texture and color. Next, it shows dance because it's a female that looks to be doing ballet, she is powerful and confident. Music is also represented such as rhythms, form and dynamics because the way the sculpture is standing it shows like she is dancing, the purple color at night brings out the beauty of the sculpture.

Location: 1600 Alvarado St, San Leandro, CA 94577

Kristal Limon Cruz

I chose this artwork because it stood out to me the most with all the different shapes and colors. When the sun hits it, it creates all sorts of reflections everywhere which is super cool. The shapes have form to it making them 3-dimensional and when the shapes being different, the reflections create even more shapes different from whats already in the artwork. I see they used green, red, and orange. but you can also see some changes in color due to the sun exposure.

I chose this example because I liked the symmetry and the details on the ceiling. The design remind me a flower. The shapes are repeated in a circular pattern, the lines are curved and detailed, guiding your eyes to the center. The warm colors (beige and gold) give a soft and elegant look. The texture appears carved, specially on the angels, and on the different shapes, adding depth to the design. The space looks open and balanced, also the arches around create a sense of depth and height. The structure may symbolize unity and spirituality, The angels suggest protection and guidance, and a connection with something higher, a closeness to the heaven.

Why I chose this example: I chose this mural because it connects to real events and meaningful messages in my community. The artist Jose Castro, created murals to respond to protests. It helped turn a difficult moment into something powerful and meaningful. This mural is important to me and my community because it represents unity, culture, and standing up for others.

Elements of art: Some elements of art I notice are color with bright and bold tones that stand out. The lines help guide your eyes across the scene. The different shapes are seen in clear images of flowers, food, and buildings. There's also a sense of space by showing both close-up and far-away parts of the mural.

1. I chose this mural because it captures everyday life in a community. The image of the street vendor holding a popsicle next to a colorful cart feels personal and cultural. The bright colors of the background make it stand out. I also really liked how the art work has both realism and abstract art in it. Growing up in a neighborhood where we would run after the ice cream man “ el elotero” when we heard him ring him bell. Which it was included in the painting.

2. The mural uses strong color abstract including the red, yellow, orange, with the darker colors as well to create a shadow. There is a lot of shapes as well which create like a rhythm of the shapes. There is realism in this aswell in the face and the clothing, most importantly in the shadows.