SOLEDAD — City of Soledad and the Arts Council for Monterey County hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for three new murals in downtown Soledad last Saturday.
This initiative is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to revitalize the downtown area and create a space where residents could feel a sense of place and ownership. In addition to the murals, the City has been making significant improvements to Front Street, including sidewalk repairs and ADA-compliant enhancements, aimed at improving walkability.
“These vibrant additions have garnered positive feedback from both locals and tourists, who often stop to appreciate them,” said Community Engagement Coordinator Henry Aguilar.
According to Aguilar, the City hopes the murals will contribute to the local economy by attracting visitors to nearby eateries and encouraging them to spend more time in Soledad.
The Arts Council collaborated closely with the City of Soledad throughout the process, selecting local artists and ensuring that the murals accurately reflected Soledad’s community and rich history.
“Extensive community involvement was key in selecting the mural designs,” Aguilar added. “The community chose these beautiful designs, and we brought them to life.”
To gather input, the City used an online survey, canvassed neighborhoods and distributed door hangers encouraging residents to participate in the selection process.
Individual artist Jesús Núñez was selected to create one of the murals at Cesar Chavez Park, while the other two were painted by teams — Arsenio Baca, Natalia Corazza, Avelino Sanher and Gerardo Zambrano of La Neta Murals and Paul Richmond, Brenda Scettrini-Saglio, Agustin Lara Pantoja and Denia Mendiola, a group of local artists.
“Public art not only enriches the community, but also has the power to boost tourism and stimulate economic growth,” said Tencia Vargas, economic development coordinator. “By enhancing the visual appeal of downtown Soledad, we are creating a welcoming environment that invites tourists, supports local businesses and strengthens community pride. This project is one of many steps in our commitment to making Soledad a vibrant, open-air gallery where art, culture and community flourish.”
The Nov. 16 ribbon-cutting ceremony at Cesar Chavez Park provided an opportunity for the community to meet the artists, enjoy the murals, engage in art activities for youth and partake in light refreshments.
