GILROY
– Gilroy’s East Eighth Street neighborhood is about to become a
bit more colorful.
GILROY – Gilroy’s East Eighth Street neighborhood is about to become a bit more colorful.
Starting Saturday, several area nonprofit agencies, the city of Gilroy and the Gilroy Police Department are inviting East Eighth Street residents and youth to help paint a mural on the side of the Pacheco Pass Hotel, 570 Old Gilroy St.
“This is a wall that gets tagged (spray painted) a lot so our strategy is to create art and pride instead of graffiti,” said Irene Hsu, program coordinator with United Neighborhoods, a San Jose-based nonprofit group organizing Saturday’s event. “This is a neighborhood that’s had its share of problems, gangs and graffiti, but we want to provide something – especially for the kids – that shows they can improve their neighborhood.”
Local artist Eric Gonzales has already outlined the mural on the side of the Pacheco Pass Hotel, whose owner gave permission for the mural on the large wall that faces the intersection of Old Gilroy and East Eighth streets. A number of local youth have also helped in the process.
Hsu said she is hoping the mural will be completely painted by early September and invites all members of the Gilroy community to join the process.
United Neighborhoods along with the Gilroy Housing and Artistic Development Department have donated a total of $3,000 for the mural, according to Hsu.
“We want this to be a community effort,” Hsu said. “We’re hoping once people get involved, and have their work on display, they won’t want to stop there.”
