For illustrator and graffiti artist, RC, art can illuminate the zeitgeist of an era by utilizing the seemingly ordinary objects that populated people’s everyday lives. More importantly, creating art connects him to his family who played their own integral part in the history of the San Francisco Bay Area. To understand RC as an artist we have to begin with one of many significant pieces of Bay Area history. The world of late 1800s California was a confusing time; ranchos of the old west slowly became divided up, sold, or just taken and the days of vaqueros, dons, and the wealth of land were coming to an end.

Though the world sometimes appears to be bursting at the seams, turning to the simplicity of everyday phenomena may just be the panacea we need to rekindle our hope. What was seemingly mundane can suddenly become a hologram of sorts, reflecting and simultaneously revealing new concepts, understanding, and realities. For musician and songwriter Will Sprott, relocating from Los Angeles to the small, rural town of Grass Valley, just north of Sacramento, set the stage for his own holographic experience...

"It is such magic inside my dojo," says Sensei Joane Orbon of her United Bay Area Karate Club (UBAKC), located in South San Jose. UBAKC was established in August 2021 and the dojo’s burgeoning popularity belies the short time it has been open. Driving by, you’ll be sure to see lines of eager students ready for the next class, training into the evening, and a collective enthusiasm spilling out the front doors. This “magic” she speaks of is the result of Joane's journey and the hard lessons she learned along the way.

For artist Francisco Zarate, art is about making the most of the present moment. While one may believe the present moment to be apparent and discernible, Zarate’s art inhabits an esoteric in-between world, where what is being communicated may only be perceptible by those who share the same dream or hallucination. Upon further meditation, his fantastical and disembodied visions, however, speak more to reality and our relationship to the unknown than may appear at first glance.

Today, the concept of “breath” has new significance, forcing us to reevaluate our priorities and beliefs. We are aware of it as we put on a mask to venture into the community and navigate the realities of COVID-19. We are aware of it when we hear George Floyd’s last words, “I can’t breathe,” echo across the nation, becoming emblematic of the fight against racial injustice. Breathing has also come to symbolize our need to feed our spirit and find space in our life for respite and reflection.

There are few things more powerful than an individual who finds their inner strength. It is this strength that enables one to navigate the outside world and the vicissitudes of life. At 20 years old and homeless, it was the gift of a paint set and easel that presented Patrick Hofmeister with a path to find his inner strength. Through art, the San Jose native discovered a compulsion to create, thus giving himself a sense of purpose and determination. Patrick immersed himself in the many...

Jonathan currently serves as faculty fellow for the Mosaic Cross Cultural Center and professor of photography at San Jose State University, where he advocates for historically underrepresented students and teaches through a social justice lens.

“Surfing is very dynamic, and a lot of the time people aren’t paying attention to what is happening around them. Most of the time, people don’t talk to each other very much. But if you pay close attention, you can find glimpses of emotion ranging from euphoria to rage.”