Local Color

It’s giving… Botanical 🌸🌿

Take a short stroll through the park. Press flowers into art. Leave feeling refreshed, creative, and maybe a little inspired.

On July 1, Local Color Founding Executive Director Erin Salazar (Erin Salazar) is leading a free Botanical Collage workshop as part of Golden Steps, our new art and wellness series for adults ages 55+.

Each Golden Steps session begins with a gentle 10-minute walk and ends with a beginner-friendly, hands-on art activity designed to encourage creativity, movement, relaxation, and connection.

📍 Arena Green Pavilion, Downtown San José
📅 Tuesday, July 1
⏰ 10:30am–12:30pm

✨ Free to attend
✨ All materials provided
✨ Pre-packaged refreshments available

RSVP through the link in our bio. Registration helps us accommodate accessibility and dietary needs.

WE GOT THE GRANT 🎉
Thank you to the City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs ( San Jose Cultural Affairs ) and Silicon Valley Community Foundation ( Silicon Valley Community Fndn ) for recognizing Local Color’s impact and investing in our work through unrestricted general operating support.

This type of funding is powerful because it supports the work behind the work. It helps us:

✨ Support the staff who bring programs into the community
✨ Plan and launch projects before funding is fully secured
✨ Cover critical operational needs like insurance and facility maintenance
✨ Strengthen our systems and build long-term reserves for sustainability

While grants often fund what we do, unrestricted support helps sustain how we do it.

Community support plays a role in this too. Donations from individuals help strengthen these same unrestricted funds and give us flexibility to respond to opportunities and challenges as they arise.

If you believe in our mission to build equitable pathways for artists and creatives to thrive, consider becoming a monthly donor or checking whether your employer offers matching through programs like Benevity.

Thank you for being part of this work 🧡

Work featured:
“Fruit of Our Labor” facilitated by Local Color and led by artist Patrick Hoffmeister ( Patrick Hofmeister )
“San José” facilitated by Local Color and led by artist Alyssa Wignant ( ALYSSA WIGANT )
Photos by Alex Knowbody (Knowbody )

📸 Know a teen who loves taking photos on their phone? This FREE hands-on workshop is for THEM!

Starting NEXT WEEK, Local Color’s FREE ArtReach photography program gives San José youth ages 14–17 the opportunity to learn directly from photographer Miguel Ozuna, who runs community photo project .

Over two weeks, participants will explore photo composition, editing, visual storytelling, and how to prepare their work for exhibition in a supportive, hands-on creative environment. No experience is necessary—just curiosity and a willingness to create.

ArtReach runs June 22–August 2 and prioritizes youth from San José priority neighborhoods and those with limited access to arts opportunities outside of school.

✨ FREE to attend
✨ Learn from a working artist
✨ Meet other young creatives
✨ Showcase your work in a public exhibition
✨ Keep all proceeds from any artwork sold

Know a young person who would benefit? Tag a parent, educator, or teen below, and apply through the link in our bio.

Day 3 Live Painting at San Pedro Square for the World Cup watch parties with the gorgeously great ❤️ Sasha 🦁 , NOW WITH the bonus edition of the Community Mural designed AND facilitated by the divine enigma that is Arely Cardenas

Come on by tomorrow 12-4pm to add to the Community Mural and see our final wall of the Live Painting Mega Cube (designed and manufactured by Ben Henderson) be painted by Houyee Chow

🌞 Introducing our Golden Steps artists!

From sun prints and botanical collage to stamp printing and moss art, Local Color’s Golden Steps workshops are filled with chances to learn something new alongside local artists.

Explore:
☀️ Solar Prints with Andy Nguyen (Andy Nguyen)
🍃 Botanical Collage with Erin Salazar (.es)
🎨 Layered Stamp Printing with Melissa West (Melissa West)
🪴 Moss Art with Steven Nizzotes (Steven nizzotes Rubalcaba)

Each FREE session begins with a gentle walk through a San José park before transitioning into a hands-on creative activity designed to inspire curiosity, relaxation, and connection. Pre-packaged refreshments will be available

Whether you’re picking up a new skill, spending time outdoors, or simply making space for creativity, these workshops are designed to be beginner-friendly and fun.

RSVP to join us at one of our workshops using the link in our bio – early registration helps us accommodate dietary restrictions and accessibility needs.

Golden Steps is supported through grant funding from Trust for Public Land.

✂️: Daenielle Tuico