“Artists to my mind are the real architects of change, and not the political legislators who implement change after the fact.” — William S. Burroughs
The economic and educational advantages of having a University of California campus in the San Joaquin Valley are easy to measure — just look at the thousands of alumni contributing to the region, hundreds of staff members boosting the local economy, and professors conducting research that directly and indirectly benefits society.
But there are other, less quantifiable ways in which the university touches the community, like the campaign for more art — especially public art — coming from the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts (SSHA).
The effects of that push are beginning to ripple out.
“Art is a way to open your mind to new possibilities, and the events we’ve had have gotten people from around the area talking about what art is,” Multicultural Arts Center (MAC) Director Colton Dennis said. “It’s so good for the community.”
SSHA Dean Jill Robbins hopes her school’s dedication to art this year will open the doors to a host of new projects in which the community can participate.
“Art isn’t a luxury. It’s not just for wealthy people,” Robbins said. “Art is all around us, and it’s part of everything we do. Art can transform this region.”
Dennis agrees that art could have such an effect on many aspects of life in the San Joaquin Valley, because it’s often through art that people begin conversations about other topics such as society, gender, technology and sustainability.
Art can also prompt people to think differently about themselves, said UC Merced Lecturer Richard Gomez. With help from his art students, Gomez has conceived of and executed several community projects, including a mural on the walls of an outbuilding at McNamara Park in Merced, and murals on the walls of schools in Planada and Livingston.
“The only art they were seeing at school before was graffiti on the walls,” Gomez said. “In Planada, we used spray paint to show the students what else they can do with a spray can.”
