Instilling pride in a community’s roots

So when he heard about a call for designs for a mural to be painted on a wall adjacent to a new parking lot in the heart of North Fair Oaks, Castro jumped at the opportunity to represent the roots of his neighborhood on a grand scale. One of three artists chosen as finalists for the project, Castro said he felt a swell of pride in seeing some 30 people vouch for his design at a North Fair Oaks Community Council meeting earlier this year.

But perhaps even more meaningful for Castro was seeing his mother and stepfather, who attended the meeting, take in the community’s appreciation of his work, which was ultimately selected for the lot at Second Avenue and Middlefield Road. Having worked hard at their own businesses to send Castro and his sister to school, he said they weren’t always sure about his pursuit of art over the years. That night allowed them to see that a career in art could be possible.

“I remember seeing my stepdad’s eye and it was a look I’ve never seen in my life,” he said. “To be able to see that was just very iconic for me.”

By adorning the 80-foot-by-24-foot wall with colorful scenes from the neighborhood’s past, present and future, Castro is hoping to inspire members from his community to similarly embrace their roots and passions. On Castro’s giant canvas, fields full of produce are painted next to the taquerias and hair salons representing the businesses clustered along Middlefield Road. His design also includes newly-constructed buildings in neighboring Redwood City, as well as their historic counterparts to illustrate the change longtime residents have seen take shape in their community.

Aimed at referencing North Fair Oaks’ diverse set of roots, which he said includes Chicano, Vietnamese and Pacific Islander cultures, among others, and illustrating the history of the neighborhood, Castro is hoping the mural will further amplify the community’s voice as the neighborhood surrounding it changes.

“It’s just an example in plain writing,” he said. “You just carry yourself, do what you really want to do [and] don’t ever give up … that right there is just basically what I’m trying to present to everybody.”

But taking on a project of this magnitude hasn’t been easy, said Castro, who said it is the first mural in his portfolio. Having also submitted a design for the mural, San Francisco-based artist Arthur Koch agreed to collaborate with Castro on the project and meet their goal of finishing the mural by the fall.

With four years of experience working on murals, Koch said the community’s response to Castro’s mural has been inspiring. He said they have also had volunteers from the community as well as local schools contribute to the project since they started work on the mural in June.

“One of the gratifying things about this mural is the locals are stopping by … and they’re really proud of it and they want to show their kids this mural,” he said. “Once you get volunteers and the community involved, it becomes much bigger than yourself and it really generates some excitement and pride and ownership for the people who live there.”

Supervisor Warren Slocum, who represents District 4 on the Board of Supervisors which includes North Fair Oaks, said residents have enjoyed watching the colorful scenes take shape over the summer.

“It’s going to be beautiful,” he said. “I think the community’s going to really like it.”

Castro said sharing the mural and his passion for art with youth at local schools has been one of his favorite parts about the project, noting that even if he only inspires one or two students to pursue their passions, it was worth it. He said he’s looking forward to showing the completed project to his family and friends, if for no other reason then to show them his path toward pursuing art has led to something real.

“I feel like I’m making my friends my family and my roots proud,” he said.

anna@smdailyjournal.com

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