Del Paso Words on Walls project...

While driving back home from an interview in the Arden area, I decided to make a quick detour to check out some local artwork that is in the area. Every time I drive down Arden Way, I see this brick wall that has a mural painted on the side of the building. The murals are created in part with the City of Sacramento and the Del Paso Boulevard Partnership. These five (although, I have only seen 4 of them) huge site-specific pieces are scatted throughout Del Paso Blvd. Five local Sacramento poets created unique poems inspired by the Boulevard. The poems were then transformed into murals with the help of graphic designers.

The main objective of the 'Del Paso Words on Walls' project is to "provide poets with the opportunity to create temporary public art while helping to foster and reinforce the Del Paso Boulevard Partnership’s goal of becoming Sacramento’s premier design district."

Del Paso Boulevard Art Scene

"A painting sprouted legs on Del Paso. It popped in

to Mama Kim's for a bite to eat.“I like your scene,” the server said.

“Thanks!” said the painting: “River, light rail, sycamores, sun...”

Then the painting wanted to see the world. “Go ahead,” said the Boulevard:

“It's spring: All the stoplights have turned green!” 

So the painting caught light rail at Del Paso and Arden.

“Where to?” asked the driver. “Round trip,” the painting said."

Poem: Susan Kelly-DeWitt

Graphics: Benjamin Della Rosa 

In Scarcity, We Bare the Teeth

"In scarcity, we bare the teeth
selling them off one by one
appetites in search of the highest price
no longer able to smile at or chew
what it means to live the good life."

Poem: Tim Kahl

Graphics: William Leung

The Mud Dauber Wasp

"She speaks to me about the mud dauber wasp,
reciting all that she learned from Encyclopedia Britannica
1970, the way it flies across the patio,
moving bits of earth larger than one would
imagine. She watches it build a nest beneath the eaves,
a thing of beauty, shining in her eyes."

Poem: Danny Romero

Graphics: Laura Edmisten-Matranga

 

Boulevard, Del Paso

"You silver spark the sapphire-bouquet mind
You fire-forth weeds of stars from asphalt cracks
Opening art's tender heart, sparkling arks
See your bones rise those orange-iron, air paths"

Poem: Paco Marquez  

Graphics: Hans Bennewitz