Art in the Public Square

2021-2022 Art in the Public Square: San Juan Capistrano

(above: William Henry von Herwig, Old Mission, 1924, oil on burlap, 34 x 30 inches. Private Collection. Baptismal font is shown temporarily relocated from present location while conservation underway in Serra Chapel.)

For 2021-22, we are accepting applications by IRS section 501(c)(3) organizations for grants to support art in the public square in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

Grant applications will be given priority that are designed to be the nucleus of matching funds. See TFAO strategy and preferences.

A grant was recently awarded to The Alliance for San Juan Art (TASJA), whose mission statement says: "...to promote and sponsor public and visible art in San Juan Capistrano, California by supporting emerging and established visual and performing artists for commissioned artworks in the public square, thereby providing civic pride for locals, educational opportunities for visitors, and economic benefits for the merchants." (left: TASJA logo. Courtesy The Alliance for San Juan Art)

A portion was used to partially fund printing of the map Art in the Public Square, San Juan Capistrano (© 2021 The Alliance for San Juan Art).The map features QR codes which provide narratives and photos of major works of art, including, paintings, sculptures, tile panels, and more. The artworks are freely accessible to the public. A revised map with thumbnail photos is here.

Additonal grants were awarded for:

-- an online catalog containing studies for tile panels depicting the journey of St. Junipero Serra to Alta California;

-- redesign of an online catalog featuring public art in San Juan Capistrano;

-- short playlets in the SJC Depot District;

-- ephemeral street art in the SJC Los Rios District by Greg Monceaux

-- design and production of a test utility box wrap depicting Los Rios Street

We are in discussions with TASJA for funding of:

-- exterior wall murals at the Blas Aguilar adobe;

-- further utility box wraps.

The San Juan Capstrano Historical Society has approached us for support of QR codes encased in decorative frames as part of a larger project.*

Please see directions for letters of inquiry and further steps leading to project funding. Also see TFAO strategy and preferences.

* We provide grants for "art in the public square" informative plaques that can fit the art requirement if they have a substantive representational art component. In the case of most brass plaques, descriptive texts are encased in a border and an art element is missing or de minimus. The art component can be specific to the content of the plaque, such as a sketch of the structure featured, or a repetitive art element. We are in strong favor of a QR code accompanying each plaque to extend its content.

-- If the QR code links to a dedicated & static web page, it can satisfy the art component if the page features meaningful art alongside expanded text and/or photos.

-- If the QR code links to a video, persons in period clothing playacting can provide the art element. We like the use of performnce art to further engage an audience, especially younger adults and children. Performance art such as "It's (date of dedication) and I'm (name of mayor) here to dedicate the (name of newly built structure) which... (narrative in historic time period context)."

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