CΔCHING OUT @ Wide Open Walls

" Wide Open Walls theme is art for all - to make art accessible to everybody." -David Sobon, Founder and Producer

Jose Di Gregorio mural on 701 S St.

 
Wide Open Walls does not call for a review, it calls for celebration of the momentum accumulating for the advancement of the arts in the Sacramento region. A mural festival of this caliber, including 50 artists both local and international, pushes the envelope for our artists, our institutions, our viewers, and our community as a whole. While the official programming of events for WOW spanned August 10 - 20, 2017 and involved multiple organizations and nonprofits, this collaboration has permanently planted public art throughout our capitol. How can the effects of this act not be memorable? These works are public, they are here to stay, and they contribute to raising the recognition and admiration of the artist's role in the community. So while criticism typically covers the effectiveness of the art based on value judgements of formal elements and content, this event and the gargantuan resulting artworks are placed in a completely different system. Public art, when done right, is inclusive and embraces the specificity of its location. The murals aren't only downtown, they expand off the grid, sometimes hidden and sometimes blatantly obvious, but most importantly they can be seen by anyone who seeks an art-filled life, or even the bustling business person as they scurry through the day. Wide Open Walls has brought art on a massive scale to the streets of Sacramento. 

Micah Crandall-Bear at his mural in progress on 730 R St.

Micah Crandall-Bear mural on 730 R St.

Last summer the Sacramento Mural Festival brought in 11 artists to begin this process of city-wide creative interaction. For 2017, David Sobon led the way by expanding, publicizing and re-branding the festival as Wide Open Walls. In accordance with his programming, WOW included walking tours, a gallery show, panel discussions, performances, partnerships, and even stipends and materials for the artists! By respecting working artists and the monetary value of their time and work, Sobon is helping to wield a path that supports the arts and helps to cultivate a diverse, creative community. 

Jorit Agoch mural in progress on 1123 J St.

Miles Toland mural on 730 R St.

In conjunction with WOW, the Condensed show at Beatnik Studios ran from August 4-24, 2017 and showcased an artwork from every artist or organization who worked on a mural. Sobon spoke at The Blog Bloc mixer at Beatnik and mentioned how gallery spaces are not accessible to every member of the community. Thus, the importance of public art and the art for all theme. Because the show also ran before and after the WOW festival itself, it provided a point of reference and comparison to observe the artists' works in their familiar medium and scale. 

John Horton, Earth Astronaut, 4 Panels, Acrylic on Canvas, 24"x 36"

Various artist on display at Beatnik Studios

Franceska Gamez, Fools Gold, Acrylic and Spray Enamel on Canvas, 30"x 60"

During the festival, it was not uncommon to pop into alleyways and witness artists working past sunset. The surge of vitality that street art exudes is undeniable, and having artists partaking in their art practice (some of them working on a mural scale for the first time, including Sac-based artists Bryan Valenzuela and Raphael Delgado) while passerby could interact is something quite unique. It was also beneficial for our local art scene to bring in artists from outside the region because this expands our visual language and helps to place us on the map. Sacramento has slowly but surely been asserting itself in the arts, and it is due to eager artists, creative leadership, the support of mayor Steinberg, and the surrounding community which brings up the level of art fluency and appreciation. If the goal of WOW was to create an arts experience for all, then they certainly succeeded, and it is a continued journey to move through the city to experience and capture every mural produced from that short but monumental week. 

Ruben Young "Grey Matter"

Collaborative Artists: Arron McGuire, Conrad Garcia, Emilio Lopez, Grey Matter, Joey Jose, Miko Daniels, Normaste, PinkStreet Art, Vincent Eugre, WeskosImages,

Phlegm mural 7th and J St,(Back of Bank Building)

Christina Angelina mural on 500 David J Stern Walk (Golden1 Center)

For more information go to http://www.wow916.com/index.html and on Instagram @wideopenwalls916