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."

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

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.