El Sueño de la Mariposa – My Largest Public Mural to Date!

El Sueño de la Mariposa (The Dream of the Butterfly) in San Jose, California

Young girl mural on Midfield Road and Havana Road in East San Jose
Young girl mural on Midfield Road and Havana Road in East San Jose

Last month, I put the finishing touches on a 140-foot-long public mural commissioned by the City of San Jose. This community mural can be tracked down on the corner of Midfield Road and Havana Road (by the Story Road exit off of the 101 Freeway.)

Long Community Mural at Dirt Lot in East San Jose
Long Community Mural at Dirt Lot in East San Jose

Most of the residents of the community are first or second-generation immigrants from Mexico and Central America, and the monarch migration theme in the mural symbolically parallels their own journeys. The girl represents the hopes and dreams every generation holds for their children. The mandala behind the girl includes peacock feather patterns, which represent pride and nobility, the birthright of every human being. There are arrows extending out of the mandala, representing the infinite directions our dreams can take us, and the circles, the echoes of the dreams, represent the many moons it takes to bring a dream to fruition.

Mandala Mural with Girl and Butterfly in San Jose, California
Mandala Mural with Girl and Butterfly in San Jose, California

I was selected by the local Tropicana-Lanai neighborhood association, who had lobbied for years (through the tenure of multiple council members) to have this “dead” space, an area that had been used as an illegal dumpsite, transformed into a community space with a park. The mural came first, but the park is scheduled to be built in 2022. I met with two community groups to get their input on the design, and incorporated their feedback to make sure the community felt like the artwork would be a perfect fit. The City of San Jose hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday. Councilmember Maya Esparza and community organizers spoke about the vision and effort it took to accomplish this project. I was humbled and touched by their efforts to improve their community as well as their heartfelt words of appreciation for the artwork. (Check out all the pictures for this project here.)

Councilmember Maya Esparza, stepping into her wings

The flowering plant around the central butterfly in the mural is milkweed. I hope the community decides to plant milkweed along the wall to help sustain the monarch population and so that the kids can encounter monarchs at their park. Life and art dancing together…

Monarch and Poppy Mural by Northern California Mural Painter
Monarch and Poppy Mural by Northern California Mural Painter

The garden on the last three panels represents the safety and abundance that we seek in our own hero’s journeys. The blooms will also provide a colorful and playful backdrop for the park. I included a “selfie-moment” butterfly that is perfectly sized for the future park’s younger patrons. Wings murals always make such great photo ops!

Interactive Monarch Wings Mural for Kids
Interactive Monarch Wings Mural for Kids

My van served as a shady mobile studio, snack shack, and nap central during this project. 185,000 miles later and I’m as grateful as ever for a vehicle that morphs along with me wherever my advantures take me.

Life of a Bay Area Muralist - Taking a Paint Break
Life of a Bay Area Muralist – Taking a Paint Break

New Community Center Artwork

Environmental Landscape Mural Painted by Muralist Morgan Bricca at the Los Altos Community Center
Environmental Landscape Mural Painted by Muralist Morgan Bricca at the Los Altos Community Center

The Los Altos Community Center opened its doors as the new “living room of the community” on October 2, 2021. I collaborated with local environmentalist and artist Linda Gass on this project, turning her aerial view designs of the local landscape over time into full wall murals. The main entrance mural features indigenous dwellings along what is now Permanente Creek. Linda consulted with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Council to ensure the village details were accurate.

Indigenous Landscape Mural with Guidance from the Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Council
Indigenous Landscape Mural with Guidance from the Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Council

The second mural, located at the south entrance, features the same creek in the 1850’s when the landscape was dominated by orchards.

Orchard Landscape Mural at the Los Altos Community Center (Inspired by the Art of Linda Gass)
Orchard Landscape Mural at the Los Altos Community Center (Inspired by the Art of Linda Gass)

The community center provides a space that will foster deeper connections among residents in Los Altos. It will be a community asset for generations to come.  Linda and I hope that by celebrating the history of the land the city of Los Altos was built on, that the artwork will remain relevant as long as the center itself.

The Bears are Leaving Town…

 

My bear was auctioned off for $10,000 last Saturday! We will miss the 54 art bears in Los Altos. They have been the perfect conversation starter among strangers, and a playful way to share the creativity of the many artists in Los Altos.

 

Los Altos Painted Bear by Artist Morgan Bricca
Los Altos Painted Bear by Artist Morgan Bricca

It’s been a big month! This little bear is ready for hibernation. Wishing you a month of cozy-pumpkin-woolen-snuggle time.

Warm regards,

 

Morgan
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Morgan Bricca
Morgan Bricca

Morgan Bricca is an internationally-renowned mural artist with over 25 years of experience in public, residential and commercial art. Morgan's signature work transforms spaces into visually compelling environments, drawing inspiration from nature and human connection. Her work celebrates local communities and history, with murals spanning from her home state of California to the Dakotas and the Carolinas, as well as in Portugal, China, and beyond.

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