By Tihut Tamrat, Contributing Writer
The San Diego Black Arts and Culture District (SDBACD), a complement to the existing Black culturally significant institutions throughout the city, serves to unify the various elements that make up the Black experience. In this instance, mural installations to Black-ify the city.
On August 20th, the SDBACD committee, along with interested community members, met to decide what they would like to see reflected in their community starting with a mural installation. Plans to have a mural installed on the gymnasium wall of the Encanto Recreation Center facing the Marie Widman Park has been a topic of conversation for the committee as permits, funds, and artists are required for it to happen.
Dr. Denise Rodgers, President of the Committee and Professor of Art History at San Diego Mesa College, shared a powerpoint presentation on the significance of murals and art in cities to get community participants minds to turn in thinking about what they would like to see represented in the Encanto mural
“When you’re walking through the neighborhood you’re learning about your history, you’re learning about significant people that have transformed your life or the life of someone that is part of your nationality. So I’ve gathered a few thematically so we can think about how we want to transform our neighborhood and the message we want to represent San Diego and the Black Arts and Culture District,” motions Dr. Rodgers to examples of mural installations that had significance to other ethnically diverse neighborhoods.
Ideas surrounding the implementation of San Diegan sports legends, and multiple generations got tossed around, along with who the community would like to do the mural, including costs and what needs to be done in preparation for the mural to come alive.
“There are so many talented artists here in this city. To find an artist that is here from this community and feel their spirit and what comes out of it is totally different than you get from anybody anywhere else,” a native Southeastern San Diegan resident passionately shared.
If you’d like to be a part of the process, join the Black Arts and Culture District in their next committee meeting on the third Tuesday of every month. Let your voice be heard.
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