Fourth Annual Summer Our RAD Wall Program for Youth, Striking RAD Mural, and Inspiring Terracotta Corridor Exhibition Catalog Foster Creativity and Community Engagement
NAPA, Calif., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- This summer Rail Arts District (RAD) Napa launches three projects which foster art and community engagement. These initiatives include Our RAD Wall – a summer workshop for youth, an inspiring mural by new-to-the-scene Napa artist Joshua Murillo, and the release of a captivating catalog documenting the exhibition, "Terracotta Corridor" featuring ceramic artists and the nationally recognized Mission Clay Art and Industry Program.
Kicking off in June, RAD continues for the fourth year, Our RAD Wall, a summer mural program for youth ages 12 to 21. These immersive, hands-on workshops provide a rare opportunity for young people to work in the public realm. The workshops are free and take place at Devine Paint Center, a local business that has been a steadfast supporter of the project since its inception in 2020.
"We are grateful for the unwavering support of our community, which enables the Rail Arts District to continue nurturing artistic expression," stated Chuck McMinn, RAD Board Member/President. "RAD offers a public and accessible space for the entire Napa community to experience art."
Scheduled to be complete this July, Napa artist Joshua Murillo will create a 17-foot by 65-foot mural in the Rail Arts District near the intersection of California Blvd. Titled "Los Braceros," the mural pays homage to the millions of Mexican laborers who contributed to American agriculture, railroads, and factories during the Bracero Program from World War II through 1964. The artwork features black and white portraits of these laborers juxtaposed against the words "Los Braceros," set against a backdrop showcasing the colors of Mexico's flag - green, red, and white.
Reflecting on his inspiration for the mural, the artist shared, "My own grandfather, like countless others, embarked on a journey to the United States through the Bracero Program. This program has left a lasting impact, shaping the lives of future generations and inspiring labor movements to combat exploitative practices."
Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of ceramic sculpture with the newly released behind-the-scenes look at "Terracotta Corridor", an exhibition of 21 ceramic sculptures in the Rail Arts District through December 2024. This beautiful publication examines the concepts behind the artworks and describes the history of the Mission Clay Art & Industry program where the artworks were created. It includes images of the artworks and essays by the exhibition Co-Curators John Toki and Shelly Willis. The book is available for purchase on the RAD website http://www.radnapa.org, and soon to be available at the Napa Wine Train gift shop.
About Our RAD Wall
Our RAD Wall Dates: June 24 // July 8, 15, 22 + 29 // August 9: Timing, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Sign Up Details: Visit http://www.radnapa.org or email [email protected]
Our RAD Wall provides an inclusive space where young community artists can express themselves freely. The annual summer youth workshops are meant to cultivate an appreciation and pride in the community and fine arts within youth. The workshop supplies and assistance are free. Youths choose to work individually or collaborate, fostering teamwork and artistic cooperation. Our RAD Wall workshops provide a supportive environment where young artists can express themselves, learn, and grow.
About Artist Joshua Murillo
Joshua was born in California and raised in the Napa Valley. He graduated from New Technology High School. He has an undergraduate degree in philosophy and another in physics from University of California, Santa Barbara. He earned a master's degree in physics from University of Hawaii, Manoa. Joshua currently teaches physics, astronomy, and mathematics at Napa Valley College. At a young age, he became interested in drawing, and has continuously made art throughout his life. The subject matter for his art has evolved over the years, from comic book heroes and villains, to people, animals, nature, and architecture, to the cosmos and the quantum world. Joshua has come to believe more and more that art has the profound ability to expand the viewer's idea of what is, what was, and what is possible. So today, his art is more focused on what stories our society chooses to tell itself, and more importantly, which stories it tends to leave untold.
About the Rail Arts District (RAD) Napa
Established in 2016, The Rail Arts District (RAD) Napa enriches the community through investment in, and stewardship of, Napa's only art district. RAD Napa begins in Napa's Oxbow District and continues northward for almost two miles along the Napa Valley Vine Trail bike and pedestrian path and the Napa Valley Wine Train tracks. Murals, sculptures, landscaping, and parks are just some of the examples of how RAD is transforming these semi-industrial areas and neighborhoods with art. To learn more about RAD, a registered 501(c)3, visit http://www.radnapa.org or find RAD on Facebook.com/RADNapa and Instagram.com/RADNapa.
Media Contact
Ashley Teplin, Studio 707, 3102103067, ashley@studio-707.com
SOURCE Rail Arts District (RAD) Napa
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