Dreary areas in downtown Modesto about to get more colorful. Why, how to check it out
A pair of downtown Modesto alleyways will get splashes of color as the city’s annual mural festival returns.
DoMo Walls begins Sunday, Oct. 1, and runs through Friday, Oct. 6, when artists from around California and Modesto make alleyway walls their canvasses.
The mural event is curated for the nonprofit Downtown Modesto Partnership (DoMo) by local artist Aaron Vickery, known as Fasm, and has been held since 2018.
“Over the years, this event has added an impressive 22 world-class murals to the heart of our city, contributing to its cultural richness,” a press release from DoMo said.
While anyone can stop by daily to view the artists at work, the completed murals will be celebrated during the season finale of DoMo’s First Fridays street fair.
One of the walls to be painted is the back of the new Modesto Children’s Museum, which is at 928 11th St.
A building adjacent to the museum also will be painted to make one large, cohesive mural, according to an email from Stephanie Foster, director of district identity for DoMo.
In the same area, Vickery and his daughter, Basil Vickery, will create another mural on the backside of Food Fix, according to Foster. While they are not featured artists for this year’s event, they are “donating their time and materials to help strengthen DoMo Walls this year.”
The second alley wall to be painted is behind The Century, at 927 10th St.
Artists this year, according to the press release, are:
▪ Ricky Watts of San Francisco, who will work behind the children’s museum. He’s known for his colorful, large-scale murals and intricate canvas paintings.
▪ Fly Lord of Modesto, who will be adding an additional touch to Watts’ abstract work behind the museum. He is known for his live painting at DoMo’s First Fridays events.
▪ Emily Ding of Los Angeles, who will paint behind The Century. Expressive animals and figures and vibrant color gradients characterize her work.
The murals will be featured during the season finale of the downtown street festival, DoMo First Fridays, from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 6. Plans include vendors, a break-dancing competition, salsa dancing, live music, food and drink for purchase, a beer garden by Track 424, giant street games and more.
DoMo Walls is partnering with local schools and universities to provide educational opportunities, according to the press release. On Oct. 4, students from California State University, Stanislaus, will visit for a field study of the murals.
“This collaboration showcases the downtown’s role in promoting art, education, and community engagement,” the release said.
For more about DoMo Walls see domowalls.com.
Vickery, in the press release, mentioned the impact the murals could have on visitors to the city. “I like to think it will make people realize, ‘Wow, people obviously care about this place called Modesto’ when they arrive.”
