GILROY
– This town’s latest public art work can’t find a home. And
that’s by design.
A premier youth program in Gilroy has unveiled an 8-foot-tall,
16-foot-wide free-standing mural called
”
Reach for the Stars.
”
It’s not painted on a wall, nor is it hanging on one. Instead,
it’s being put on display anywhere in town it’s wanted.
GILROY – This town’s latest public art work can’t find a home. And that’s by design.
A premier youth program in Gilroy has unveiled an 8-foot-tall, 16-foot-wide free-standing mural called “Reach for the Stars.” It’s not painted on a wall, nor is it hanging on one. Instead, it’s being put on display anywhere in town it’s wanted.
“It’s a traveling mural. We’re dedicating it to the children of Gilroy from the children of Gilroy,” said Erick Westphal, a social worker for Gilroy Family Resource Center, the organization that sponsored the project.
The mural can be put on display around Gilroy by organizations such as City Hall and the Gilroy Unified School District, where the five-panel piece has already been displayed. More than 20 middle-school and high-school children helped create the mural along with local artist Julie Franco.
The artist youths were participants in the Gilroy Family Resource Center’s Youth Leadership Program. The leadership program is a 16-session course helping children with substance abuse, conflict resolution and grief and loss issues, among several other topics.
“The youth program is one of several programs within Gilroy Family Resource Center,” Supervisor Sue Averett said. “We received a $1,000 donation from the Gilroy Foundation and Julie (Franco) said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to do something artistic with the youth program?’ ”
The mural, painted on five wood panels, depicts a pair of hands reaching for the solar system. Atop the panels are wood blocks in the shape of stars.
Each of the youth painted their dreams. On one block there is a judge presiding over a court. On another, there is a modest two-story single-family home. Scribed across the middle of the mural is “Reach for the Stars.”
It is currently on display at the GUSD district office.
People or groups interested in displaying the mural can do so for free. Contact Sue Averett at 846-5056
