Community Art

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About The Artists

The Art & Design Team worked to find artists as diverse as the honorees. They sought artists who were committed to building the capacity of others, and were connected to the community surrounding Market Creek Plaza. Twelve artists with a gift for portraiture, men and women spanning three generations, worked over a four-month period to bring the faces to canvas.

Berenice Badillo Berenice Badillo believes art frees the soul and that the youth of America have the desire and need to express themselves in a nonviolent manner. Berenice is the founder and executive director of San Diego StreetScape, a youth-run arts organization with the goal of healing communities through the arts. She is also the art director and collaborate partner in “ELEMENTAL,” a drug- and alcohol-free, after-hours teen club. Berenice has been featured in more than 20 gallery exhibits and has created several commissioned murals. Back to Top

Brian Lagemann Brian Lagemann, born and raised in San Diego, has been a professional graphic designer for seven years. Believing that art shouldn’t be restricted to one medium, he established himself as a multi-faceted artist using oil, acrylic, charcoal, spray paint, and pencil to express his artistic vision. In addition to his graphic design work, Brian leads the Writers Block youth art program, assisting in mural projects, mentoring youth via artistic training, and acting as a mentor for younger community artists. Back to Top

Byron Wooden (Deceased) Byron Wooden, a San Diegan whose artistic works focused on the African-American culture and children, was a published artist recognized locally and abroad. He was a freelance illustrator and multi-media artist whose work has been exhibited in galleries and art shows throughout the United States. He created ads for corporations including Coca-Cola, Embassy Suites Hotels, Home Federal Savings, and Sea World andwas a published artist who illustrated a children’s book titled Followers of the North Star. Back to Top

Carmen Linares Kalo In her life-long pursuit of art, Carmen Linares Kalo’s work ranges from expressionistic to realistic. Working mostly with acrylic on canvas, Carmen’s work conveys the depth of her bi-cultural upbringing in Tijuana and the Golden Hill area of San Diego. Influenced by an eclectic field of Mexican and German artists, Carmen has grown into a well-known muralist. In addition to her work in San Diego’s Chicano Park, she has created murals in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Oregon, and Canada. Back to Top

Dan Reyes Camacho Painting has been an intricate part of Dan Reyes Camacho’s life for more than 15 years. He was born and raised in the Philippines, immigrated to the United States at 16, and grew up in the southeastern area of San Diego. Now working in graphic design, illustration, and set design as a freelancer, he has completed projects for the San Diego Symphony, Nordstrom’s Fashion Valley, and the United States Navy. Dan’s artwork has been featured in galleries such as Gallery 504, Clayton’s Coffee House, North Park Studios in San Diego, and in various independent shows. Back to Top

Elaine Ruiz Elaine Ruiz is a native San Diegan and a second-generation Mexican descendent. She says her inspiration comes from present-day political dramas and the human emotions they evoke. Elaine’s art has been featured by many local, national, and international forums. Awards for her work include the Del Mar Fair Art Show “People’s Choice Award” and prestigious awards from the Clairemont Art Guild. Her primary goal as an artist is to inspire and guide female artists in the Chicano community to achieve their artistic goals and dreams in life. Back to Top

Gil Dominguez Gil Dominguez was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1947. When he was 10, his family migrated to East Los Angeles, settling in Santa Monica. Since then, he has lived in Athens, London, Hollywood, and San Francisco, returning to New York in 1980. While in New York, he was instrumental in refurbishing the downtrodden Carlton Arms Hotel into an “art hotel,” which has gained local and international attention for the transformational power of art. Now a graphic designer for Pfizer, Inc., Gil’s goal as an artist is to reveal realms of consciousness through color and form. Back to Top

Ricardo Islas The art of Ricardo Islas stems from his desire to portray Mexican culture and the social issues Chicanos grapple with every day. Using the canvas as his camera, he captures a moment in time where he can offer a glimpse into the struggle of the Mexican people. A Chicano artist for three years who uses oil on canvas as his primary medium, Ricardo is a California native who grew up in Calexico, a border town similar to San Diego. His art was recently featured in San Diego’s Clayton’s Coffee House, the Mesa College Gallery, and North Park Studio. Back to Top

R.J. Wharton Born in Washington, D.C., R..J. Wharton believes artists play an important role in society: to record the era through his or her perspective and convey it with truth. According to R.J., the artist’s job is to paint stories everyone can understand. His work has been exhibited in the Artist Colony of Encinitas; Atlanta, Georgia Arts Festival; and the Charles Rucker Gallery of San Diego. A former board member of the San Diego Art Institute and former member ofthe selection panel of the Center City Development Corporation,R.J. also worked on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade Projectand as an artist-in-residence of the Sojourner Truth Academy. Back to Top

Savaii Seau Capturing the essence of movement, Savaii Seau uses his intricate drawings to portray the fierce intensity and competitiveness of an athlete. He experiments with a variety of mixed media and techniques to show his admiration for the athlete and an intimate understanding of the game. Savaii has created pieces for American Express Sports Financial Advisors and his art has been on display at the San Diego Chargers headquarters, the Viktor Gallery in La Jolla, and the Stephen Clayton Gallery in Coronado. Back to Top

Shannon White Shannon White believes the world is full of beauty that only lasts for a second. As an artist, her primary goal is to capture that beauty and make it permanent, so it can be recalled time and time again. Her work has been exhibited at Clayton’s Coffee House, the Shannondon Photo Art Studio, and the San Diego Mesa College Art Gallery, where she earned an honorable mention in the Student Art Exhibition. Her ties to the community are deep, having grown up near Gompers High School, just down the street from Market Creek Plaza. Back to Top

Victor Ochoa Victor Ochoa’s art is a reflection of his view of how art can be used as an instrument of change and awareness, believing that Chicano art dynamics derive from the responsibility of their movement. He has contributed to more than 75 murals and other public art projects in Southern California, Mexico, and abroad. Victor is involved in art mentoring programs and cultural art programs geared toward the positive aspects of the graffiti art movement. He works as the Mexican-Chicano art history professor at Grossmont College. Back to Top