Art Students to Unveil New Public Art in Downtown Chico

Ceremony Set for Thursday, June 26

A group of Butte College art students is helping shape the visual identity of Downtown Chico through the Downtown Arts Placemaking Initiative, a collaboration between Butte College, the Downtown Chico Business Association (DCBA), Chico Arts Center, Chico Arts & Culture Foundation, MONCA, and the City of Chico Arts Commission.

This initiative launched the Chico Open Board Art (COBA) Project to revitalize Diamond Alley with vibrant, student-created artwork focused on the theme "Past to Present: Creative Interpretations of Local Agriculture." The first phase involves the restoration and reactivation of eight public art frames located near Hotel Diamond, with each frame featuring an original piece by a student from Butte College.

The public is invited to attend the COBA Unveiling Ceremony on Thursday, June 26, at 6:30 p.m. in Chico City Plaza. The evening will include remarks from DCBA President Greg Scott and Butte College President Virginia Guleff, as well as the official unveiling of the student art. Each student will have the opportunity to introduce their work and briefly discuss how it relates to the agricultural theme.

After the unveiling, guests can enjoy live music by Steve & Kathy Band and meet the artists one-on-one. The eight selected student artists and the titles of their featured works are:

• Jessica Frandsen, In Bloom
• Elliot Gucho, Firefighting Goats
• Ryan Herren, Cattle Butte: Beauty Thru Time
• Tev Katz, Hands That Feed Us
• Nat Klopfenstein Markarian, The Guardian
• Jaden McFadden, Cow Pastures Along the In-Between
• Kendall Wilson, Nutty Refuge
• Daniel Kent Wooldridge, Golden Fields of Future Memory

"I wanted to contribute a piece that honors this land's first ancestors and the ways in which they cared for our earth. My hope is that this public art project encourages us to hold on to our love for people and planet as we continue to build the story of agriculture in Butte County," said Nat Klopfenstein Markarian, one of the featured student artists.

"The partnership between Butte College and the DCBA has allowed me to grow in community throughout this experience," they said. "I feel honored to be included as a co-creator in this installation."

The COBA project goes beyond beautification. It gives students the opportunity to create public art, contribute to local culture, and gain real-world experience as artists. With rotating themes and ongoing student participation planned for future phases, the program is designed to be sustainable and continually evolving.

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