Art is the universal language, it should be everywhere!
- The Heavy
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT
HICKORY & MYRTLE, PACIFIC PARK NEIGHBORHOOD SANTA ANA, CA
"ANCIENT GUIDE" FOR MYRTLE ART ALLEY
MAY 2022
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, in my personal opinion this particular image captured the exact reason of why we do this. There are locations through out the city that are often overlooked and forgotten. These spaces are the walk ways of the coming generations. Those who are soaking in new ideas, knowledge and influences. It is vital to spark that creativity and individuality in the youth, to let them know that anything is possible. There dreams, there ideas, there goals are limitless. Regardless of which neighborhood you live in. Art should be everywhere!
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"BENDING TIME AND SPACE" COMMUNITY PROJECT
LOS DORADOS BBQ
SANTA ANA, CA
MAY 2022
Cuauhtémoc, depicted in a golden “Dorado” penoch full of quetzal feathers gazing and connecting with a “spirit” bird which represents his connection to nature. Worshipped by Mayas and Aztecs, the Quetzal feathers symbolism is not accidental: the local tradition considers it a symbol of freedom it was believed that it preferred to die of hunger rather than to live as a prisoner. This mural reminds us that regardless of the adversities that are thrown at us, we are in control to create and bend the earth around us.
Location: 2600 W Edinger Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92704 Los Dorados BBq Fairview and Edinger Santa Ana CA
MYRTLE ART ALLEY COMMUNITY PROJECT
"LOVE THY NEIGHBOR" BANNER
2022
Project was a grassroots collaboration with Pacific Park neighborhood. The Inez Lopez family sponsored the interactive banner to create a sense of neighborhood pride in the Pacific park neighborhood in Santa Ana. Artist developed a "Love thy neighbor" banner to spread love in the community. This piece is currently exhibiting in the alley by the Park Town apartments off Hickory and Myrtle in Santa Ana.
MYRTLE ART ALLEY COMMUNITY PROJECT
"ONCE UPON A TIME.." MURAL
2021
The Heavy connected with Community leaders and neighborhood associations to come together and invest in the Pacific Park Myrtle art allery project. Alleyway is located between Myrtler and Hickory, a block from Roosevelt-Walker Academy Elementary school. The Inez family, work with artist Kimberly Duran and Bud Herrera to use murals to create a sense of neighborhood pride. This initiative calls for strategic investments to be made to in public art along alleways that students use when walking between home and school. As well as healing our community through art, and placemaking. La Cultura Cura !
"INNER SELF"
A GIFT TO THE COMMUNITY
SANTA ANA, CA
2020
Artist partner with IMG construction to resolve an issue with ongoing Vandalism and promote unity during the covid Lockdown. The Mural was created to inspire a sense of inner hope & peace through the 2020 pandemic. This desire birthed the mural "Inner Self," a colorful mother earth figure meditation in a garden full of natural elements. Mexican elders say Huitzilopochtli guided the Aztec’s long migration through the valley of Mexico and thus the hummingbird is the symbol of strength in life's struggle to elevate consciousness - to follow your dreams. This mural was developed by The Heavy Collective, Bud Herrera and Kimberly Duran. It is location off of Grand & Calle Cuatro in Santa Ana California.
TURTLE ISLAND
NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP
KOREATOWN, LOS ANGELES CA
2020
Artist collaborate with K-town neighbors in Los Angeles neighborhood. Mural "turtle island" is created to create a safe, fun environment for the alley way. Image depicts a floating turtle with "lady luck" traveling and guiding the way.
K-TOWN NEIGHBORHOOD
CLEAN UP
2018-2019
The Heavy collective collaborate with Good Neighbors art space in Koreatown Los Angeles. They work along side local artist in K-town and neighbors to use art to clean up the alley ways used to commute on a daily basis. These spaces create and outdoor art gallery setting for the local neighborhood.
"REINCARNATION"
INVESTING IN ARTIST GRANT PROJECT
SANTA ANA, CA 2018
The Heavy Collective received a grant from the Arts and Culture office to create Public art projects with the community. They utilized these funds to collaborate with the youth in Santa Ana to create open dialogue on what should be created on the mural. The students from OCHSA High school joined the artist in the dialogue and birthed the image "Reincarnaction." A celebration of life highlighting the Dia de los muertos in Santa Ana.
COMMUNITY ART WALL
FUNDED IN PART BY THE INVESTING IN ARTIST GRANT
2017-2019
Artist are awarded multiples grants by the City of Santa Ana's Art & Culture office to develop more art and culture in the community that are inspired by History and Culture. They utilize these funds to build a wall that is accessible to the public and create rotating murals. The first mural created was "Chinatown burning" an homage to the burning that took place off 3rd and Bush street where the wall currently sits. In 1906 Santa Ana deliberately burned down the Chinatown and let a man die all due eminent domain. This project helped to create an art alley space in Downtown Santa Ana to invite the community, visitors and creators to interact with the wall an pay homage to the history of the area.
ORANGE COUNTY THERAPEUTIC ARTS
2016 - 2017
Artist Kimberly Duran working alongside OCCTAC and SAUSD to provide innovative, artistic, educational and therapeutic programs that inspire and transform children, at-promise youth, adults and their families to fulfill their highest potential.
OCCTAC arts center is the first and only organization in Orange County offering unique programming that combines the arts, academics, and creative therapies to help children, youth and adults realize their highest capabilities.
Through teaching art at several Elementary schools in Santa Ana ages K-6th grade, Artist Kimberly Duran walked students through planning ideas, mural masters, art history, philosophy and developing quarterly exhibitions at each campus.
"SECRET GARDEN"
PIO PICO ELEMENTARY 2015
SANTA ANA, CA
Artist collaborate with The Love Initiative in their annual neighborhood clean up project. They work alongside community volunteers and students at Pio Pico Elementary in Santa Ana to create a safe and inviting environment for the nurses office.
"FUN IN THE SUN"
EVERGREEN NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP
2015
Artist collaborate with The Love Initiative neighborhood clean up project. This effort was to help the Evergreen neighborhood in Santa Ana have a friendly and uplifting mural for the community. Image depicts children playing soccer, jump rope and reading books. Community volunteers and children participated in developing this piece.
"LA CULTURA CURA"
COMMUNITY GIVING BACK
MINTER ST. SANTA ANA, CA
2014
Artist collaborate with local unhoused Santa Ana resident "Angel" to create a mural on his van located off 4th street & Minter St. He wanted to create a cultural image that reflected his roots. Angel is a well known unhoused resident that religiously parks his van on the corner of this neighborhood near downtown Santa Ana. The artist each created and image on each side of the van that was inspired by Angel's vision. This effort was to help him with the vandalism issue he was facing on his vehicle.
"KNOWLEDGE IS POWER"
PADRES UNIDOS COMMUNITY MURAL
SANTA ANA, CA
2014
Artist collaborate with Padres Unidos non - profit to develop a community mural for the Garden off Santa ana Blvd and Lacy st. in Santa Ana. The garden is a center where at risk youth come to work off community service hours in the garden. Artist created a 90ft x 10ft mural that reflects nature, children playing and reading books. Promoting knowledge is power.
"MADRE NATURALEZA"
COMMUNITY MURAL
SANTA ANA, CA
2013
Macre's community mural, Lead by Artist Kimberly Duran and Elizabeth Cardenas. Over a period of 12 weeks that began in September of 2013, artist facilitated the creation of a community mural located in Downtown Santa Ana in the rear wall of Macre's flower shop of Santa Ana, which engaged local artists, youth, business, and residents in the art-making process. The mural itself was inspired by the community interview process, with the final piece representing the dreams and aspirations of Santa Ana residents. The design was developed by Lead artist Kimberly Duran and Elizabeth Cardenas, whom lead the project, painted it along with a large contribution from Stacey Patino. In addition to these organizational partners, the Coalition involved many community leaders, arts administrators, students, educators, local artists and non-artists alike. Over 300 participants, Santa Ana community members from many different backgrounds, all worked together to make art and transform the space.
Who Was Involved:
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Workshop for Community Arts (WCA) is a community-based, artist-run organization located in Santa Ana, CA that facilitates creative workshops and events. WCA artists have expertise in multiple disciplines, including creative writing, visual art, music, and community organizing.
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The Grain Project (TGP) promotes unified, healthy, sustainable communities through urban agriculture and public art. TGP offers collaborative and holistic programming, urban beautification, partnerships, and community building for self-sufficiency and empowerment.
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MC Gallery is committed to the research, production, presentation and interpretation of contemporary Latin American art.
"MOTHER NATURE"
SPONSPONSERED IN PART
BY R'GARDEN FOR UCR
RIVERSIDE, CA
2013
The Heavy collective, Artist Kimberly Duran and Bud Herrera develop a mother nature mural for the University of Riverside community garden. This project was funded by R'Garden, UC RIVERSIDE'S COMMUNITY GARDEN. The R'Garden is a student and community resource space that began in 2009, when a group of students, faculty, staff, and community members set out to increase environmentally centered spaces on UCR's campus. In 2012, the student organization's Sustainable UCR and Cultivate R'Space began organizing a petition and rally to under the campaign "Where's R'Garden?" From that dedication came what we know today as the R'Garden
