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“Out of the Box” Mural Program Phase 2 Engages Local Students to Paint Utility boxes with Vibrant Images
STOCKTON, CA – (March 24, 2015) The Downtown Stockton Alliance (DSA) in partnership with the Stockton Mural Art
Resource Team (SMART) is finalizing the second phase of “Out of the Box” mural program. The program was initiated in
spring of 2014 to beautify downtown Stockton streets and showcase art by local students whose winning designs were
painted on four utility boxes. Student artists were paired with SMART Project’s mentors who were professional artists based
in Stockton. The program is funded by the DSA’s Downtown Improvement Fund and community contributions.
Four designs were selected for the second phase of the program as a result of an art contest for local high school and
college students in fall of 2014. All four winners are students of Charles Weber Institute of Technology. Their names are:
David Michael, Anthony Gallegos, Jerick Lozano, and Jose Pineda.
“When DSA initiated this project, we were hoping to transform otherwise unattractive looking metal cabinets into pieces of
art that bring vibrancy and color to downtown streets,” commented Cindi Fargo, the DSA’s CEO. “We are excited that the
contest resonated with the local students who submitted many interesting designs.”
Once the winning designs were selected by a committee including SMART and DSA representatives, they we presented for
approvals to Public Art Advisory Commission and the City Council. The metal cabinets designated for Phase 2 of “Out of the
Box” are now being prepped for painting and will be painted over the course of two weekends in March starting on March 27.
The student artists will be supervised and mentored by professional local artists: Michael Oliva, Menchie Oliva, and Dick
Agonoy.
Michael L. Oliva, Founder and Senior Art Director for SMART, is excited to partner with the DSA on this creative community
effort. “The S.M.A.R.T. Project was started as a way for local student artists to be given opportunities to contribute public art
to their community,” said Oliva. “These young artists can express themselves visually, learn core job responsibilities, and be
paid stipends while working with professional artists from Stockton. They will learn art has worth and value and that their
efforts benefit our city.”
More details about the program can be found at www.DowntownStockton.org under What’s Happening/Art in Downtown or
by calling Downtown Stockton Alliance at 209-888-8626. Photographers and film crews on site are welcome.
Downtown Stockton Alliance's mission is to promote business, housing, arts and entertainment to help create a vibrant, sustainable, urban
community in Downtown Stockton. The DSA is a public/private partnership uniting almost 1,000 property owners and downtown businesses
incorporated in 1996 as a 501(c)(6) corporation. Funded by a Property Based Improvement District (PBID) which allows property owners to
self assess on properties and a Business Improvement District (BID) which allows business owners to self assess their businesses, the
Downtown District was voted into creation in 1997.
The Stockton Mural Art Resource Team (S.M.A.R.T.) is a group of local professional and student artists and community leaders dedicated to
showcasing the diversity, history, community, creativity, and unity of Stockton through public art projects. More information is available at
their website at www.SmartProjectStockton.com.
125 Bridge Place, 3rd Floor, P.O. Box 2375, Stockton, CA 95201; Office: 209.464.5246; Fax: 209.464.4558; www.downtownstockton.org