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CONTACT: Jennifer Murray, 831-515-2802 jennifer@millermaxfield.com FRIENDS OF SANTA CRUZ STATE PARKS ANNOUNCES MURAL DESIGN CONTEST FOR SANTA CRUZ MISSION STATE HISTORIC PARK March 14, 2016 – SANTA CRUZ, CA—Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks (Friends), a local non-profit supporting 32 state parks and beaches in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, today announced a mural design contest in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the opening of Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. While imagination and creativity will be key components of the winning design, the art should relate to and include the name “Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park” and may commemorate the 25th anniversary of the park. Submissions should avoid confusion with the nearby Santa Cruz Mission Chapel replica at Emmett and School streets. The winning design will be chosen by a committee of representatives from California State Parks and Friends, as well as interested community members. The winner will be announced by April 1, 2016, and will receive a $500 cash prize. The winning design will be recreated in tesserae, a colorful tile that will be formed in the shape of the artist’s design to create the mosaic mural. Community volunteers, Mission Hill Middle School students, in cooperation with Friends and California State Parks will install the public art under the direction of noted local artist Kathleen Crocetti who has created murals on Water Street, Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street bridges. “We are excited to work with the community to create a beautiful, iconic entrance to Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park that people can enjoy for years to come,” said Bonny Hawley, executive director of Friends. “Kathleen does amazing work and we are happy to partner with her, State Parks and the winning artist on this celebratory public art project.” Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is located at 144 School St. in Santa Cruz. As a guidepost to draw visitors to the park, the mural will be located on a series of retaining walls along the park’s Mission Street boundary, facing downtown. The mural site is at the stairway entrance to the park, across from Lighthouse Bank on Mission Street and up the hill from the Town Clock. Contest Details The contest is open to all residents of Santa Cruz County. Entries are due by 5 p.m., Sunday, March 27. Entrants must send completed entry form available at http://www.thatsmypark.org/projects/santa-cruz-missionwith contact information to: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, 144 School St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060, or Amanda@ThatsMyPark.org. Winning artwork becomes the property of California State Parks. The winning artist will be invited to install the mural along with community volunteers May 21 & 22, 2016. Students from Mission Hill Middle School will apply the finishing touches May 23, 2016. For questions, contact Amanda Segers at 831-429-1840, ext. 103 or Amanda@ThatsMyPark.org. The Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park Community Mural is funded through a generous grant from the Arts Council Santa Cruz County and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, with additional in-kind support from artist Kathleen Crocetti. For more information about Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, visit www.thatsmypark.org/projects/santa-cruz-mission or www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=548. About Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park The Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, “Your State Park Downtown,” is home to the oldest building in Santa Cruz County. Built between 1822 and 1824 by local Ohlonean and Yokuts Indians, the park’s signature adobe is the only remaining structure from Mission Santa Cruz, founded in 1791. One of just four adobe buildings left in Santa Cruz County — and sometimes confused with the nearby replica mission chapel — it is the only building of its kind preserved as a museum in the State of California. The adobe served as housing for Neophyte families who lived and worked at the Mission, which operated until 1834 when it was secularized. After decades of private ownership, the adobe was sold to the State of California, extensively restored and finally opened in 1991 to the public as the Santa Cruz Mission SHP. The park celebrates its 25th year in 2016. Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks saved Santa Cruz Mission SHP from closure in 2012. Friends funds interpretation services and a portion of park operations, and also runs the Mission ParkStore. In addition, Friends has implemented key improvements at the park, including a remodel of the patio, the opening of new interpretive exhibits, renovated outdoor cooking facilities and new hours of operation to serve local school children. Friends also established the Summer Series, a popular series of cultural events at the Mission that culminates with the Mole & Mariachi Festival each September. The park is supported by the Mission Committee, members of which include representatives of Friends, State Parks and dedicated community volunteers. About Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is an entrepreneurial nonprofit sustaining the legacy of our state parks and beaches. Through an innovative partnership with California State Parks, and by leveraging local community support, Friends has provided millions of dollars of funding for educational programs, visitor services and capital projects. Founded in 1976, Friends is passionately dedicated to the preservation of our spectacular natural environment and rich cultural history. Friends also operates six ParkStores, offering nature- and history-themed merchandise for sale to benefit local parks and beaches. ParkStore locations include Natural Bridges, New Brighton, Santa Cruz Mission, Seacliff, Wilder Ranch and Online. Learn more at ThatsMyPark.org or via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.
CONTACT: Jennifer Murray, 831-515-2802 jennifer@millermaxfield.com
FRIENDS OF SANTA CRUZ STATE PARKS ANNOUNCES MURAL DESIGN CONTEST FOR SANTA CRUZ MISSION STATE HISTORIC PARK
March 14, 2016 – SANTA CRUZ, CA—Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks (Friends), a local non-profit supporting 32 state parks and beaches in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, today announced a mural design contest in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the opening of Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. While imagination and creativity will be key components of the winning design, the art should relate to and include the name “Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park” and may commemorate the 25th anniversary of the park. Submissions should avoid confusion with the nearby Santa Cruz Mission Chapel replica at Emmett and School streets. The winning design will be chosen by a committee of representatives from California State Parks and Friends, as well as interested community members. The winner will be announced by April 1, 2016, and will receive a $500 cash prize. The winning design will be recreated in tesserae, a colorful tile that will be formed in the shape of the artist’s design to create the mosaic mural. Community volunteers, Mission Hill Middle School students, in cooperation with Friends and California State Parks will install the public art under the direction of noted local artist Kathleen Crocetti who has created murals on Water Street, Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street bridges. “We are excited to work with the community to create a beautiful, iconic entrance to Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park that people can enjoy for years to come,” said Bonny Hawley, executive director of Friends. “Kathleen does amazing work and we are happy to partner with her, State Parks and the winning artist on this celebratory public art project.” Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is located at 144 School St. in Santa Cruz. As a guidepost to draw visitors to the park, the mural will be located on a series of retaining walls along the park’s Mission Street boundary, facing downtown. The mural site is at the stairway entrance to the park, across from Lighthouse Bank on Mission Street and up the hill from the Town Clock. Contest Details The contest is open to all residents of Santa Cruz County. Entries are due by 5 p.m., Sunday, March 27. Entrants must send completed entry form available at http://www.thatsmypark.org/projects/santa-cruz-missionwith contact information to: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, 144 School St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060, or Amanda@ThatsMyPark.org. Winning artwork becomes the property of California State Parks. The winning artist will be invited to install the mural along with community volunteers May 21 & 22, 2016. Students from Mission Hill Middle School will apply the finishing touches May 23, 2016. For questions, contact Amanda Segers at 831-429-1840, ext. 103 or Amanda@ThatsMyPark.org. The Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park Community Mural is funded through a generous grant from the Arts Council Santa Cruz County and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, with additional in-kind support from artist Kathleen Crocetti. For more information about Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, visit www.thatsmypark.org/projects/santa-cruz-mission or www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=548. About Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park The Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, “Your State Park Downtown,” is home to the oldest building in Santa Cruz County. Built between 1822 and 1824 by local Ohlonean and Yokuts Indians, the park’s signature adobe is the only remaining structure from Mission Santa Cruz, founded in 1791. One of just four adobe buildings left in Santa Cruz County — and sometimes confused with the nearby replica mission chapel — it is the only building of its kind preserved as a museum in the State of California. The adobe served as housing for Neophyte families who lived and worked at the Mission, which operated until 1834 when it was secularized. After decades of private ownership, the adobe was sold to the State of California, extensively restored and finally opened in 1991 to the public as the Santa Cruz Mission SHP. The park celebrates its 25th year in 2016. Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks saved Santa Cruz Mission SHP from closure in 2012. Friends funds interpretation services and a portion of park operations, and also runs the Mission ParkStore. In addition, Friends has implemented key improvements at the park, including a remodel of the patio, the opening of new interpretive exhibits, renovated outdoor cooking facilities and new hours of operation to serve local school children. Friends also established the Summer Series, a popular series of cultural events at the Mission that culminates with the Mole & Mariachi Festival each September. The park is supported by the Mission Committee, members of which include representatives of Friends, State Parks and dedicated community volunteers. About Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is an entrepreneurial nonprofit sustaining the legacy of our state parks and beaches. Through an innovative partnership with California State Parks, and by leveraging local community support, Friends has provided millions of dollars of funding for educational programs, visitor services and capital projects. Founded in 1976, Friends is passionately dedicated to the preservation of our spectacular natural environment and rich cultural history. Friends also operates six ParkStores, offering nature- and history-themed merchandise for sale to benefit local parks and beaches. ParkStore locations include Natural Bridges, New Brighton, Santa Cruz Mission, Seacliff, Wilder Ranch and Online. Learn more at ThatsMyPark.org or via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.