This month, we invite you to celebrate the creativity of young artists, highlight the lasting impact of art in our everyday lives, and explore the unique stories that enrich our cultural landscape. Join us in embracing the beauty and connection art brings to our community!
New Murals Celebrate Local Pride
As we welcome the new season, our Mural Program team is thrilled to share two new projects that embody the themes of community and local pride. The first mural, designed by Ian Stiles-Mikl, was created at La Jolla Country Day School with the help of twenty-five students. It showcases a serene coastal landscape and prominently features the school’s beloved Torrey pine tree mascot. Through soothing blues and earthy tones, the mural invites students and visitors alike to pause and reflect on its peaceful atmosphere.
This mural contains over 700 hand-painted ceramic butterflies that were painted by LJCDS students through The Butterfly Project. It stands as a powerful visual of resilience and hope. View more photos of the finished mural >>
Our second project took place at Rice Elementary in Chula Vista, where ArtReach Mural Artist Partner Josué Baltézar led the creation of a mural celebrating Chula Vista’s rich natural landscape and the school’s strong community ties. This dynamic piece features Rice Elementary’s roadrunner mascot against a backdrop of the sun and mountains, a reference to the city’s iconic logo.
Surrounding the roadrunner are elements of local flora and fauna: a monarch butterfly, fish swimming in kelp, an agave plant, and hummingbirds, which together create a lively representation of Chula Vista’s diverse ecology. Working alongside over 90 Rice Elementary students to paint the mural, our team felt the contagious energy and pride these young artists brought to the project. Funded through the City of Chula Vista’s Performing and Visual Arts Grant, this mural reflects both the school’s identity and the community’s natural beauty. View more photos of the finished mural >>
These mural projects are a testament to the powerful impact of public art in educational spaces, sparking joy, reflection, and a deeper connection to the community. We are grateful to the talented and enthusiastic student artists who brought these murals to life.
Bloom to Care: Honoring Caregivers
We are delighted to celebrate the success of the We Choose Care event, showcasing the soft sculpture installation, Bloom to Care, created by local caregivers. This installation represents months of collaboration with Children’s First Collective, where caregivers came together in workshops to express their experiences through art. These soft sculptures, embodying care and the delicate nature of caregiving, highlight the crucial role caregivers play in our communities. Through this creative process, caregivers not only shared their stories but also advocated for better working conditions, fair wages, and access to self-care resources.
Our partnership with Children’s First Collective has been a key part of this advocacy, allowing us to amplify the voices of caregivers throughout San Diego County. Together, we provided meaningful workshops that offered both artistic expression and a platform for important conversations about the challenges caregivers face. We are incredibly proud of how this installation turned out and the powerful message it conveys. This project is a testament to the strength and resilience of our community and the impact we can achieve when we come together to uplift and advocate for those who care for us!
Art in Action at Ramona Elementary
In 2025, ArtReach is excited to continue its 15-year partnership with the Ramona Community Foundation to bring visual arts classes to 4th-6th graders at Ramona Elementary! With a $4,500 grant for the 2024-2025 cycle, Teaching Artist Catherine Dzialo-Haller will engage 210 students and six teachers in creative workshops that build social-emotional skills and a strong sense of community.
In a survey, 100% of teachers agreed that ArtReach classes make students eager to attend, comfortable expressing themselves and creating a real sense of belonging. Plus, 85.7% of teachers saw students feeling empowered, valuing their art, and confidently trying again when faced with challenges. At the end of the year, we’ll celebrate with a student art exhibit at the Spring Open House, giving families and friends a chance to admire all the hard work and creativity.
4th-grade teacher Susan Douglass shared, “Students are more engaged, focused on creativity, and continued growth in eye-hand coordination. There are great class and group discussions centered around their art. Art is a way for students to express themselves, and their emotions and provide a good outlet for stress. Ms. Catherine is amazing, personable, and kind to all students. She is what makes this program even more valuable for the students to connect with art.”
Where Creativity Meets Community
Introducing the ArtReach Artist Gallery! This is a special showcase of artwork created by our talented staff, highlighting that beyond the work we do as part of our nonprofit mission, we are all practicing artists. Each piece reflects the unique skills, styles, and knowledge that we bring into our teaching and outreach programs. By sharing our personal, creative journeys, we enrich the educational experiences we offer.
We invite you to stop by our space in Hillcrest and explore our unique collection, perfect for holiday shopping! Not only will you find one-of-a-kind pieces, but you’ll also be supporting local artists and our mission. A percentage of each sale helps fund our efforts to provide free visual arts education to schools throughout San Diego County. Thank you for supporting our artists and helping us bring the joy of visual arts to students. Please email Laurie Evans for artwork inquiries or more information about the gallery.
Give Locally this Giving Tuesday
As we approach Giving Tuesday on December 3, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for your unwavering support. Everything we achieve—highlighted in these bi-monthly newsletters—is made possible by your generosity. This global day of giving is an opportunity for our community to come together and make a meaningful impact. Your contributions enable us to continue our mission of empowering artists and fostering creativity. We invite you to join us in celebrating this special day and making a difference in the lives of those we serve!
Next Up in the Studio: Art Workshops for All
Fri, November 15 // Herringbone Necklace
In this beginner-friendly beading workshop, Diane Kramer will dive into herringbone stitch, or Ndebele, an intricate bead weaving technique that gets its name because the finished design resembles the backbone of a fish. You will have the opportunity to work with stunning Japanese triangle-cut beads in vibrant fall colors.
Sat, November 16 // Upcycled Denim Patches
In this workshop, participants will design and create their own unique denim patches! We’ll provide you with a tote bag to add a patch to, or you can bring your favorite jacket, jeans, or bag to personalize!
Fri, November 22 // Intro to Natural Dyeing
In this workshop, textile artist Evan Tyler will lead you through the processes of extracting dye from organic materials, such as onion skins or marigolds, to add beautiful color to textiles! Bring your own textiles (100% natural fiber), such as thrifted cotton shirts, or use fabrics provided by ArtReach.
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