Public can watch as artists create 4 murals in Modesto. Will be celebrated at street fair
More buildings in downtown Modesto are being adorned with large murals.
Artists have started creating four murals to add to the DoMo Walls works already on view.
There were 17 existing murals downtown as part of DoMo Walls, which was established as an annual event in 2018, according to a press release from the Downtown Modesto Partnership.
The murals will be celebrated during the season finale of the downtown street festival, DoMo First Fridays, on Oct. 7.
The festival will include vendors, live music, food, salsa dancing, a break-dance competition, giant street games, a small beer garden and more. It runs 6 to 10 p.m. on 10th Street between I and K streets and on J Street between Ninth and 11th streets. For more, see www.downtown-modesto.com.
“DoMo Walls is a great example of the growing list of activities that reinforce our identity as a comfortable cosmopolitan city — one that’s welcoming and accessible while still providing a tremendous amount of culture and amenity,” Josh Bridegroom, president and CEO of the Downtown Modesto Partnership, said in the release.
The nonprofit organization partners with Modesto-based artist Fasm (Aaron Vickery) to produce DoMo Walls.
The public can view art already completed during this year’s event, as well as works currently in progress.
The first artist started painting on Tuesday, Sept. 27, with the others following since.
Here’s a look at the artists along with where and when they have been and will be working, according to the release:
CAMER1sf of San Francisco is an artist, teacher and public art advocate. He painted Sept. 27-29 at the Mayol & Barringer Law Offices, 1324 J St.
Joel Aguilar of Livingston has been in the art industry for more than seven years and a muralist for two. Aguilar started painting Sept. 30 and will do so through Oct. 2, then will work again Oct. 7-9 at the State Theatre, 1207 J St.
Shane Grammer of Los Angeles has joined with Fasm for the project. Grammer is a contemporary multidisciplinary artist with a focus on art installations, sculptures and paintings. Fasm has been an international mural artist for three decades, with art in five countries, 15 North American states and several California cities.
Grammer and Fasm are painting Oct. 2-9 at Omega Pacific Insurance Solutions, 1016 12th St., downtown Modesto.
Maxxer of Anaheim is known for work that is colorful, culturally relevant and influenced by the evolution of street art in the United States. He will install his mural Oct. 3-7 at Never Boring, 1016 14th St.
Art not only creates more beautiful and interesting spaces, Fasm said in the press release, it can act as “vandalism abatement” and increase business where the works can attract more visitors.
“The mission of DoMo Walls is to help Modestans become a more art-centric community, he said. “Public art creates community pride as well as a sense of belonging and ownership.”
This story was originally published October 3, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
