Water and Words Installation at Arts District Liberty Station, between Barracks 3 and 4.

Words relating to associations with and memories of water were collected from community members. The plexiglass forms are suspended within the existing archways, allowing for light and reflected color to be cast upon the floor of the hallways during the early parts of the day. Silhouette of the simple etched text sourced from the community is also cast upon the floor. Similar to the tide, this cast light and shadow will ebb and flow within the space, revealing and concealing the messages on the floor during different times of day.

Conceptually, I view water as a life force that holds seemingly contradictory qualities. Formally, it can be both still and flowing and express many different colors depending on the sky it reflects and mineral composition. Whether it brings things into existence or takes them away, it is always a part of the journey of life caring with it the memories of our planet’s happenings. It is a compound that resides within each of us and connects us all regardless of how we got here and helps in spreading people, information, and goods globally.

The intention with this project is to invite viewers to contemplate their connection with the waters within San Diego and reflect upon the complexities and phenomenal aspects of water. Additionally, this installation invites viewers to notice the subtle aspects of the architecture, the natural features that permeate the space, and direct attentions to the subtle aspects of the space that tap into a deeper history. The installation will on view through December 2025.

Image of sailors within the barracks hallway from Arts District Liberty Station archives.

"Park Social is a citywide initiative introducing social-specific public art into San Diego's vast and varied park system. Held for six months in 2022, Park Social engages with a broad and constantly shifting audience of park goers, intervening and interacting in the social spheres of public parks and exploring topics ranging from environmental justice to belonging and social cohesion through responsive artistic projects". - City of San Diego Arts Commission

COLLABORATOR: Kasi Munoz with Studio Nectary

Click here for more information about the Park Social initative.

A one day event was held which included inclusive activities that connected participants through three different series of line explorations and engagements. These events were a free-parts play activity, community weaving reflection activity, and dance activity (as shown in photos below) that were designed to reflect and honor the resident populations based on conversation with community partners.

We took inspiration from the people who live and play in Linda Vista and the lines and connections created during the summer time community event.

Participants were asked to bring a piece of fabric to the event which was woven and quilted together into a final installation on view in the park.

La Jolla Shores - Fragmented Stores, Found fragments from area around La Jolla caves, handmade mixed-media objects, and images and text from La Jolla Historical Society archives, 2024 (Photo credit: Pablo Mason)

I am interested in the notion of fragmentation and how fragments from seemingly diverse times and sources may come together to form a broader non-linear story of place. In making this piece, I was curious about how the caves formed, who and what lived around the caves, and what stories and associations developed with these caves in mind. I view this piece as a collection of small poetic gestures and small notes as if shared by another with whom I am developing a deeper relationship with. (Photo credit: Pablo Mason)

Images and text included in the piece are sourced from the La Jolla Historical Society archives. Some objects were collected, while others small sculptures were inspired by Kumeyaay stories and stories of other people who immigrated to or visited La Jolla thereafter. I have deep gratitude for the shared knowledge and stories of Kumeyaay Elder, Dr. Stanley Rodriquez, and La Jolla Historical Society Historian, Carol Colten, as they relate to the people and events that took place within the caves and surrounding La Jolla coastline. (Photo from the La Jolla Historical Society Archives)

Memories We Held, 2024, Community sourced rocks cast in Kozo paper and muslin

Rocks serve as anchor points within our landscape and are small capsules of earth and minerals that have been formed over time, affected by surroundings. Historically, they have been used as markers, molded into tools, and collected as souvenirs.

As part of the development of this piece, participants were invited to bring rocks from their local landscapes. A one-day workshop was held in which visitors to the La Jolla Historical Society were invited to make paper casts of their rocks using a paper casting technique.

The casts of the rocks were collected and used as part of the installation. Participants and viewers are invited to reflect on and share how the natural environments have affected them over time, and reciprocally their effects on different environments.

Landscape Labyrinth, 2024, Installation with cyanotype rocks, mulch, and plants, 17’ x 17’ x 6’

Six community workshops were held along Paradise Creek in which participants were invited to create cyanotypes on rocks from plant material collected from the local landscapes around National City. Participants were asked to write a short statement that answers the questions: “How can I help my community to be in harmony with our planet?”

These rocks were intended to reference the memories of the landscape from which they came. This piece invites viewers to reflect on effects on the environment and reflect on how they can better live in harmony with our planet.

At the very end, rocks were collected and used to make a larger labyrinth that was showcased at the Fleet Science Center during a culminating event. Visitors to the museum were invited to walk through the labyrinth reflecting on how they too can help to live in harmony with our planet and bring awareness to environmental issues.

Hope for the Flowers, 9’ x 17’, Acrylic Latex Paint

The title of this mural Hope for the Flowers was inspired by Trina Paulus book who said "In some way we all hope that life can be transformed from whatever dreary aspect we are experiencing or sadness." The mural calls attention to the bright and beautiful flora and fauna around us as a way to transform the space and give a sense of joy to the residents, workers, and visitors of El Cajon.

Welcome to Wells Park, acrylic latex paint, 35’ x 11’

This public mural was commissioned by the City of El Cajon (City) Parks and Recreation Department. The mural was designed to provide a cross-generational welcoming feeling to all Wells Park users. The mural welcomes visitors in English, Spanish, and Arabic. Stylized mountains of El Cajon are depicted, as well as the well known local parrots that nest each night in front of El Cajon’s City Hall. City residents, and well as City staff, started this mural off as part of the 92020 community day.

The Water We Share, 6’ x 6’, Acrylic Paint Collaborators: Arts Alive SDSU and SDSU MFA Graduate Students Juan Cabrera, Meredith Habermann, Kitty Nix, Zac Keane, and Sage Serrano.

This painting was commissioned by Arts Alive SDSU and San Diego State University’s (SDSU) president, Adela de La Torre, for the November 2019 Re:Border binational conference between SDSU and UABC in Tijuana, Mexico. SDSU students of the Chicano/a Studies and Engineering departments were asked to attend a community input session. During this meeting held within the Arts Alive SDSU headquarters, student shared thoughts and ideas pertaining to the Re:Border conference theme “the water we share”. Based on the input received, a design was developed to be used for the conference main art and photo backdrop. The painting portion of this project was completed with the help of a team of SDSU MFA graduate candidates. The painting currently resides in the president’s art collection at SDSU.

This design challenge was co-taught with Kasi Munoz with Studio Nectary. Over the course of 16 weeks, students were taught tools and techniques to identify site issues and develop creative design solutions to address these issues. This project resulted in two murals with mosaics - The Ocean Mural was conceptualized to increase awareness of oceanic health. The Graduation mural was painted as an interactive mural to engage students and provide a colorful backdrop to honor those students going through commencement.

Collaborator: Studio Nectary

This mural was designed and facilitated by Kline Swonger as part of an Arts Alive SDSU collaborative project with the San Diego State University identity centers. This project was envisioned by Nenechi Nenachi from the SDSU Retroact Club, as a way to create a mural that provided a sense of unity and empowerment between the SDSU identity centers . The event was sponsored by Arts Alive SDSU. Students from the identity centers as well as he larger student body, were invited to assist in painting the mural. Upon completion, the mural

was divided into four sections which now live in SDSU’s Black Resource Center, Pride Center, Women’s Resource Center, and the Center for Intercultural Relations. The students of the identity centers on campus provided imagery, historical figures, and text that they felt was representative of them and empowered the communities they served. Click here for more information about this project.

Collaborators: Nenechi Nenachi with SDSU Retroact Club and Arts Alive SDSU

This was a collaborative placekeeping project that was a part of the healthy food and neighborhoods initiative. After a series of community input sessions and design iterations by SDSU Graphic Design Students, community members were invited to participate in a build day to repaint and construct planters for this African Caribbean Food Market. This project focus was to promote community, sense of place, and healthy food options within the City Heights neighborhood.

My role was to prepare and facilitate the mural and painting portions of the interior and exterior spaces for this project.

Collaborators: Kasi Munoz with Studio Nectary, UC San Diego Center for Community Health, Rooted In Place Landscape Architecture and Consulting, Brennan Hubbell, and San Diego State Graphic Design students.

This mural was commissioned by the Old Town Academy in concert with it’s butterfly way station. It shows the life cycle of the monarch butterfly, as well as other butterflies.

Collaborators: Rooted In Place Landscape Architecture and Consulting and Studio Nectary

This mural was commissioned by The Parents Foundation of Loma Portal Elementary School in Point Loma as a way to thank all the school donors. Each of the school’s students, ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to Third grade, participated by putting their hand prints as part of the colorful leaves and roots of the tree.

This was a collaborative placekeeping project that was a part of the healthy food and neighborhoods initiative. After a series of community input sessions and design iterations by SDSU Graphic Design Students, community members were invited to participate in a build day to repaint and construct planters for this market. This project focus was to promote community, sense of place, and healthy food options within the City of El Cajon. My role was to lead the painting portion of the placemaking activity.

Collaborators: Kasi Munoz with Studio Nectary, UC San Diego Center for Community Health, Rooted In Place Landscape Architecture and Consulting, and San Diego State Graphic Design students.

This was a collaborative project to enhance the education center for The Child Development Association Child Development Center Parks. My role in this projects was to paint 5 murals of varying sizes around the educational campus.

COLLABORATORS: Kasi Munoz with Studio Nectary and Ilisa Goldman with Rooted In Place Landscape Architecture and Consulting.

The Art Space mural design was developed by Nate Schnell.

The Art Space mural design was developed by Nate Schnell.