Art Break Day Stories: Joy from Stockton,CA

Favorite moments came one after the next.  While setting up Janet Leigh Plaza I asked a volunteer’s daughter to decorate signs.  In that moment I realized that art was being created.  Then I requested the volunteer to make “Take An Art Break” signs one of which she embellished with her daughter’s handprint (a mother daughter moment).  The volunteer’s husband also drew with his daughter on a sign (a father daughter moment).  Everything was ready for people to arrive when wish flags, Draw It Out had previously made with the community, were hung from the palm trees.

One of the first participants was the founder of Art Expressions of San Joaquin, Arturo Vera.  I was happy to see him make a wish flag dressed in his colorful Stockton Is Magnificent shirt.  Then a group from the Alan Short Center arrived. I was glad they returned this year.

Julie, a volunteer from Cleveland School Remembers Draw It Out, met a man who had attended Cleveland School when the shooting took place.  I looked over and Sylwia, the Graphic and Communications Manager for the Downtown Stockton Alliance, was painting a wavy design.  She made my day when she posed with a paintbrush in her mouth.

Some people watched art being made and some shared their thoughts about art. James, an avid Stockton promoter, asked a woman to paint a picture for him.  In that moment they were connected.

A photographer for the Stockton Record arrived and took a photo of two children painting.  My favorite photo I took shows two girls wearing the Art Break Day aprons almost as tall as they are.

After watching everyone engaged with art where art is rarely seen, I have hope that more people will ask for increased art opportunities in the places that they gather.