Poppies, Poppies, and More Poppies!

I’ve had poppies on the brain lately! I’ve been preparing over the past few months to paint a mural of poppies in San Jose.  I’ve been working with the city of San Jose and our neighborhood association and it’s been a really fun project. 

In preparation for this mural, I have been sketching poppies. Poppies on my notebooks, poppies in my notebooks, poppies on my meeting minutes, poppies on the sidewalk… Poppy‘s, poppies, poppies!

I’ve learned a lot throughout this project, and not just how to create a poppy. It’s interesting, even though I’m an Art Commissioner for the City of San Jose, this project was not associated with that commission at all. It’s sad to say that if it had gone through the art commission for approval, the mural would’ve taken one to three years to be created. Thankfully, Mayor Matt Mahan’s office helped to sponsor our mural and we got it done very quickly (3 months) without any red tape.  

This is the biggest art project that I’ve ever led, so I was a little bit nervous, but it turned out fabulous! This was a community project where we had some days of prepping and then one large day of community painting. We were expecting about 35 volunteers and we ended up with over 100! How cool is that?

If I could sum up this project in one word, it would be WOW!

Wow to how fast we got it done, wow to the beauty, wow to the overwhelming community support, wow to Mayor Matt Mahan and Vice-Mayor Pam Foley, wow to making ideas happen.  Just, WOW!

My takeaways from this project…

1. I had very little control during this project. I had to let-go and just let it happen.
2. Planning was the key to our success. Our overall plan was a good one.
3. I felt somewhat like a conductor, pulling a song together. Keeping an eye on who’s blending and who’s outlining and what we need more of.  
4. I did that! I made that happen!
5. There are lots of levels of artists… Some are confident, and some are not. And sometimes the art that comes from those people is unexpected.
6. There will always be stinkers and snotty opinions… Let them!
7. Clear communication is key.
8. Assign jobs and allow others to teach – creative empowerment in action!
9. Allow people to follow through.  Even when you start to worry the balls may get dropped, continue to have faith. 
10. This project generated HOPE
11. I am strong, creative, and I can do anything!
12. The success of this project is a big confirmation for me that the Art Commission is a roadblock/speed bump for art being created in San Jose.
13. I will continue to find ways around the Art Commission.  If I want to create art in my community, I will have to find ways around the red tape barrier.
14. I learned that there is a person on the mayor’s staff whose job it is to find loop poles in the red tape within the city departments so that they can get things done in a timely manner.… WTH?  Such a confirmation that I am not a good fit for the commission.

I am grateful for

Kind People

Community support

Beauty

Artistic Freedom

My life

Love and Support from Friends and Family

Color

Wabi Sabi

Like poppies, art is meant to pop up and grow. It’s bright colors, bring joy and beauty to passerbys. That’s the kind of art I want to be a part of.  Art that grows organically it is not stunted or held back. Art that brings smiles and pride to the community, especially those who had a hand and creating it. Art is not meant to be held back. Nor am I.

Here’s a peek at the mural from start to finish: