Grant St. Mural Creation Volunteer Opportunity with SJWalls & GRPC

Come together with SJWalls, GRPC, and mural artist, Taki Kitamura, as we create a beautiful mural piece on Grant St. No previous experience in painting is required for this opportunity, our skilled mural curators and artists will teach you all you need to know to participate!

Background:

In 2019, GRPC and San Jose Walls joined forces with a shared vision to use the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy as a natural public art gallery to create a new cultural destination in San Jose. The joint benefits of public art and open spaces function as a catalyst to foster community resiliency, attract park users, spark inspiration, and promote social healing.

"Our goal is to enhance the existing public art collection within the Conservancy by adding dozens of art installations along the Guadalupe River Trail.
Together, we’ll create the Bay Area’s longest public art corridor."

Featured Artist:

Taki Kitamura is an acclaimed Japanese-American tattoo artist who apprenticed under the famed Japanese tattoo master, Horiyoshi III and counts American tattoo pioneer Ed Hardy as a mentor.
State of Grace Tattoo was founded by Taki “Ryudaibori” Kitamura in September of 2002. You can find State of Grace Tattoo in Japantown.

Kindly review before registering:

Please note that the minimum age to volunteer for this event is 10 years old. Adult chaperones are required to attend with individuals age 15 and under. In addition, we required all individuals under 18 years old to have a guardian read and sign our Volunteer Service Agreement form. You must email an electronic copy to [email protected]. The Volunteer Service Agreement is attached.

In addition, please note that:

• Restrooms will not be readily available at the mural location, please be sure to use the restroom prior to attending this event.
• Please pack a full, reusable water bottle and snacks.
• Please wear closed-toed shoes and clothes you are comfortable getting dirty.
• We highly recommend wearing sunscreen and bringing a hat.
• Please be advised that parking for volunteers will be standard street parking. There is paid parking on Woz Way.
• Volunteers must abide by all instructions mentioned in the pre-event demonstration, failure to adhere to instructions may terminate an individual’s right to volunteer at this event.
• School groups and corporate teams must email our Volunteer Program Coordinator at [email protected] to schedule events.
• Inclement weather may cancel this event; we will contact you should conditions require the event to be postponed.

The exact location of mural meeting point is at 37°19'23.1"N 121°53'22.9"W. Please save and copy the coordinate points on your maps app for guidance. Visual aid provided below.

Serpentine Fire by Taki Kitamura:
"To celebrate this lunar year of the dragon and the multiculturalism of San Jose, Serpentine Fire represents dragon mythology around the world. With my background as a tattoo artist, I am versed in depicting visual mythology and am part of a larger tradition of storytellers. With this mural, I am expressing the diversity of serpent divinity and sacred spaces - the dragon and serpent have been symbolic in cultures all over the world and in this, I see our common humanity.

The torii gates to open the mural are reminiscent of the famed Fushimi Inari Shinto shrine in Kyoto and a Japanese dragon rises above. Quetzalcoatl, the great Aztec feathered serpent, glides through the air behind snake shadows casted on Chichen Itza pyramid at the spring equinox. In Peru, a serpent is inscribed with the Nazca line from thousands of years ago. A Dragon dance and firecrackers bring in the Lunar New year in Asia. In Greek and European mythology, the Serpens constellation, graces the heavens- one of the most sacred spaces of all. And we close with the Naga of India, the origin of most Asian dragon mythology."

Host or Publisher Guadalupe River Park Conservancy