On June 8th, students from De Anza Academy of Technology and Arts (DATA) installed their first temporary public art mural, Eyes on the Westside, at 481 N. Ventura Ave. The temporary mural showcases the Westside’s diversity and community through portraits of children from the Westside. Five eighth grade students; Ruby, Lukas, Cash, Carina, and Naia, worked on the project. They developed the why, photographed and edited the portraits, participated in the Public Art Commission’s design review process, and supported its installation.
DATA’s mural is part of a larger project by artist JR, titled Inside Out, which is a global platform for people to share their untold stories and transform messages of personal identity into works of public art. Eyes on the Westside, which measures 70 ft. by 30 ft., will be up for approximately six months.
DATA’s project is a community collaboration between the Ventura Unified School District, City of Ventura, Westside Community Development Corporation, and Local 805 Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters. Each INSIDE OUT group action is documented, archived, and exhibited online. The INSIDE OUT project has traveled from Ecuador to Nepal, from Mexico to Palestine, inspiring group actions on varied themes such as hope, diversity, and climate change.
