Jacobs Center Opens Arts Park @ Chollas Creek

The Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation’s new Arts Park @ Chollas Creek, home to Writerz Blok, is now open and will host “Sow and Grow @ The Creek,” a free community event on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

“Sow and Grow @ The Creek” – with an everything gardening theme – kicks off the Arts Park programming and will feature gardening workshops with free take-home plants, creation of a community mural with “KimberlyArtShow,” reggae band Pali Roots, kids’ activities and more.

Artist Deedee Morrison will introduce the community and solicit feedback for her proposed public art sculpture, “Visualize Biodiversity,” that will reside as a permanent installation at the Chollas Creek Urban Park. A collaboration with Jacobs Center and the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, and supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the piece celebrates habitat restoration in a biologically rich and visually appealing piece. It is set to be unveiled at Chollas Creek in early 2019.

To RSVP, visit https://sowandgrow2018.eventbrite.com.

Arts Park @ Chollas Creek builds on Writerz Blok’s mission to build Southeastern San Diego’s cultural offerings and provide a space for all artists (visual, performing, experiential, etc.) to gather and engage the community. The park’s transformation was community driven, with neighbors offering insight on how to best expand the park for ultimate community use.

“We are excited to expand our programming at Arts Park @ Chollas Creek to include events around art, design and nature,” said Reginald Jones, president and CEO of the Jacobs Center. “This place-making park can be transferred to locations throughout the community to enhance areas and bring people together through the arts.”

To continue these efforts, Jacobs Center is currently seeking other organizations and artists to propose arts and culture activities at Arts Park @ Chollas Creek from September to December 2018.

Additional programming at the Arts Park includes a Dia de los Muertos Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 1-5 p.m., with Jacobs Center Artist-in-Residence Macedonio Arteaga, co-founder, writer, teacher and artistic director of Teatro Izcalli. Artega will lead activities including mask-making, sugar skulls and “papel picado” (traditional paper cut-out banners) that attendees can take home, along with a presentation on the meaning of the “Day of the Dead.” The Arts Park is also working on partnerships and programming with Project New Village and Black Xpression.

The community is invited to visit Writerz Blok, currently open every day from 9 a.m. to at least 6 p.m., with select closures throughout the day when the group teaches classes at Crawford High School (Wednesdays, 1-3:30 p.m.) and Rancho Buena Vista High School (Mondays, 2:30-4:30 p.m.). To confirm specific hours, it is highly recommended that artists and the public monitor the Instagram page, or call 619-263-4914.

In addition to its ongoing outreach and participation in area events, Writerz Blok is gearing up to revive its signature events, including the “Third Annual NOF (Nineteen Oh Four) Reunion” in early fall to bring together pioneer graffiti artists and old school writers.

For more about Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation and the latest updates on Arts Park @ Chollas Creek events, visit www.jacobscenter.org.