Work continues on two outdoor community mosaic art projects that are part of an ongoing major upgrade for Ramsay Park thanks to the efforts unfolding at the Muzzio Mosaic Art Center in Watsonville.
The City of Watsonville and Watsonville Wetlands Watch have joined forces with Community Arts & Empowerment and a crew of volunteers and interns, from high school students to seniors, in creating a 30-foot mosaic mural for the front of the Community Center/Nature Center in Ramsay Park and nine medallions for a walkway in the park.
The mural and the walkway have unique stories that parallel each other in color and design. Each design contributes to a story of human and natural migrations and environmental stewardship of the Pajaro Valley.
“I feel like it is a great opportunity to show my skills and also develop them. I’m glad to be here doing something to help my community,” said Ronlewis Estrellon, who just graduated from Watsonville High School June 6 and now heads to Cabrillo College. “There’s a great team spirit here and they’re great friends.”
The 30-by-10-foot entry mural will welcome ethnically, linguistically and socioeconomically diverse community members to Watsonville’s new Nature Center, which will be configured into the existing Community Center. There will be seven 5-foot-diameter medallions and two 4-foot medallions incorporated into a walkway.
“I feel good because art is something beautiful,” said Alma Rosete, a junior at Watsonville High School. “When I first saw Kathleen’s work it made me want to come here to experience something new. I’ve met a lot of new people; when people come in here it’s easy to meet them. This mural looks really beautiful. I never expected it to be so big.”
Kathleen Crocetti, who has spearheaded scores of outdoor mosaic projects around the county—including the one that covers the exterior walls of the six-floor parking structure in Watsonville on Rodriguez and Second streets—is heading up the project.
“We had 27 artists submit images of work that they had already done,” she said. “A committee narrowed it down and selected three artists who were given a stipend to come up with design ideas for the medallions and the large mural. After reviewing the designs, a committee that included city staff, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, and Community Arts & Empowerment, Watsonville artist Priscilla Martinez was selected to create the final design.”
Martinez has designed numerous murals that are painted on utility boxes around town, in addition to the poster for the Watsonville Strawberry Festival for around 10 years, International Women’ s Day posters and more. She was inspired by the community and incorporated everything they suggested in the overall designs.
“I spoke with seniors, high school students and others and they all gave input,” Martinez said. “It’s really exciting. I’ve never done anything like the mosaics before—it’s a different kind of art. There’s a lot of talent here. I’m amazed at the way they are so into this project; they love what they do.”
On Tuesday, 15 seniors from the Watsonville Senior Center were on hand to help build the mosaics pieces.
“It was really nice being here and working on the project,” said Andrea Edsberg who came with the Senior Center group. “I’ve never done anything like this before; this was my first time. It was different; I would definitely come back.”
The mosaic pieces will eventually be installed once the Renaissance Project, that includes new athletic facilities, trails, a dog park, picnic areas, benches, bleacher seating, landscaping, upgraded parking and much more, is complete. While the Nature Center is not part of that project, it parallels the ongoing work.
