The City of Arcata, in collaboration with Playhouse Arts, is proud to announce the artists selected through this Call for Art and their inspiring projects that will soon enhance our community. This year’s selection highlights a diverse range of artistic expressions, from murals that tell stories of migration and cultural resurgence to sculptures that inspire, as well as a unique musical experience that brings people together through song. 

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These selected works will be developed over the coming months, with installations scheduled throughout the year. Each project is a testament to the creativity and vision of our artists and their commitment to enriching the cultural fabric of our community.

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Selected Artists and Projects
 

Centro Del Pueblo - Sanctuary Garden Mural:

Centro Del Pueblo will create a series of murals within the public right-of-way adjacent to the Sanctuary Garden at F and 11th Streets which will vividly capture the migration journeys, cultural identities, and resilience of Latinx, Indigenous, and immigrant communities. This project will be a testament to the strength and diversity that enrich our community.
 

David Mata  - Mural at the Arcata Library:

David Mata will create a vibrant mural that celebrates California Native basketry and reflects the community’s rich cultural heritage. His work will add a powerful visual narrative to the exterior of the library and.
 

James Smith - Sculpture on the Arcata Plaza:
James Smith's sculpture will bring a dynamic and modern touch to Arcata’s downtown Plaza. 
 

John King - Sculpture in Northtown:
Sculptor John King will present a striking new piece that captures the intersection of form and meaning, located at the entrance to Northtown Arcata between G and H Streets.
 

Jullia Finkelstein - Mural at Carlson Park:
Jullia Finkelstein will bring her artistic vision to Carlson Park with a mural that celebrates native plants and the beauty of shared spaces.
 

Loren Wheeler - Mural on Alliance Road: 

Local artist Loren Wheeler will paint a mural on a retaining wall along Alliance Road which tells a traditional story, as a way to preserve the Yurok cultural ways through his art. 

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Threshold Choir  - Music Performance and Workshop:

The Threshold Choir presents a community sing-along, fostering community spirit through the power of voice, with social and musical activist Melanie DeMore, who will lead a workshop at the Arcata Presbyterian Church on September 14 and a sing-along at Redwood Park on September 15. Both events are from 3-5 PM and are free and open to the public. 

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About the 2024 Call For Artists

The 2024 Call For Artists was initiated to engage local and regional artists in contributing to public art projects that explore cultural history and lived experience in Arcata anchored to the themes of resistance, remembrance and resurgence. The Call for Artists was shaped and reviewed by a panel of local arts and cultural leaders. Funding for the 2024 Call For Artists is made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act. The City also welcomes public art proposals on a rolling basis outside of funded calls for art through the Art Around Arcata program.

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For more information about the selected projects or to learn about upcoming events, please visit https://www.cityofarcata.org/1080/2024-Call-For-Artists