Vibrant Art Change Comes to Downtown Santa Barbara Intersection

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - A one-of-a-kind art project is now coming alive as fresh paint hits the asphalt in downtown Santa Barbara.

It comes from a special grant, which couldn't have been delivered at a better time for the city. It is in the process of reimagining the downtown promenade corridor.

Santa Barbara was one of only four cities to get this Bloomberg Asphalt Art Initiative grant in the U.S.

The City of Santa Barbara, in collaboration with the County Office of Arts & Culture, was awarded $100,000 from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Outreach and demonstrations took place in January at the Saturday Farmers Market which takes place at this intersection.

Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture Executive Director Sarah York Rubin says there will be designs that will likely show community, the ocean and other aspects of the people and region that will, "integrate those ideas into a design that's a design for the street." With the project at the Farmers Market site she says "to do design based on Mixtec textiles because so many of  of the workers and people who work at the farmers market are Mixteco and Zapotecs"

Lead artists Eddy Jimenez and Irene Ramirez provided an introduction to Zapotec textiles and designs.

Lead designer Irene Ramirez said four colors were chosen. "so the pink color for example was inspired by bougainvillea and the  blue could be ocean and sky, It's very Santa Barbara blue . "

Many people walking by saw the teams of workers, the rollers with paint, the yellow tape blocking some access and the new art appearing right in front of them. Nick Hartley is a downtown worker who said, "it's going to look interesting. I think it gives a little bit more vibrancy to State Street. Anything that is beautiful and thought provoking is going to bring people here  to look. I think it fits the motif of the town."    

Erin Guerena is a business owner who said, "I own a bike store so if it does decrease traffic and make biking a little safer in Santa Barbara that's great ."
But she cautions, "I don't think that this is going to change or impact  downtown consumerism and make it vibrant enough that businesses are going to come in, because rent is too expensive. "

With the project underway traffic is being reduced to one lane in each direction.

Along with the intersections, there will be work on the curbs, planters and lighting fixtures.

This has proven to be a way to reduce traffic problems and increase pedestrian safety.

Friends of State Street is collaborating with supplies needed for the project.

For more information go to : Bloomberg Art