Looking for something to do on Saturday or Sunday? How about supporting local artists as they begin Artccupy Suisun this weekend in Harbor Square.
The project will launch with 20 artists, paint pens, and 45 vacant windows.
“Artccupy Suisun is an artistic movement bringing together local artists to beautify the City of Suisun,” said Aria Zuloaga-Walker, of the Fairfield Visual Arts Association in a press release. “Art can be defined as 'an expression, what is beautiful, and of more than ordinary significance.' Occupy can be defined as 'to fill, or to take up space or time.' We plan to occupy as many vacant spaces as possible in downtown Suisun City with art.”
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The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. but Zuloaga-Walker said that hot weather is in the forecast and artists might begin at 9 a.m. and leave as early as 3 p.m.
Artccupy Suisun is supported by the Fairfield Visual Arts Association, Lawler House Gallery, and the City of Suisun.
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“It's going to be up until the weather permits,” Zuloaga-Walker said.
Zuloaga-Walker, who is also a member of the Lawler House Gallery, said that since buying a house in Suisun, she felt the town had a lot of potential. So instead of sitting around, she decided she would use her talent in order to make the city great for her son to grow up in.
“I looked at Suisun City as a blank canvass just thinking 'Oh my God, there's so much opportunity here to beautify the city,’'' she said. “And it's going to cost millions to retrofit those buildings downtown. So how could we beautify the city without actually needing businesses to come in right away?”
She then told city officials and developers about her idea of painting the windows and they were all for it.
“They said, 'If this can get people down to our waterfront area and if this could help change the community, then let's go for it,'” she said. “Then I told the artists the idea and the board the idea and they said 'If you have the time, and you could do it and it doesn't cost anything, go ahead and move forward.'”
Zuloaga-Walker added it's been so amazing to see how many people wanted to change and transform the city.
“It comes from the heart,” she said. “It has nothing to do with money. It has everything to do with seeing the potential here and wanting it to thrive.”
The unveiling of the work will take place on Saturday, October 6, in conjunction with the Art, Wine, and Chocolate Festival on the waterfront.
“The project will eventually expand to the unoccupied property windows and facades on Main Street, creating an organic art walk in the downtown area,” stated Zuloaga-Walker. “Artccupy Suisun Art Walk will officially kick off in Spring of 2013.”
The art walk will include "street" art, galleries, and businesses that support one or more local artists, according to the release.
