Wasco art festival draws hundreds, organizers plan more mental health workshops and downtown public art
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Summary
Organizers and council members described a well-attended art festival honoring Vincent van Gogh and World Bipolar Day that combined arts, cultural programming and mental-health resources. The city will wrap downtown trash cans with student artwork and NAMI will offer upcoming workshops at a local church hall.
Organizers and council members said a community art festival held in downtown Wasco drew “hundreds and hundreds” of attendees and combined art sales, performances and mental-health outreach.
The festival, presented by local volunteers and co-organized with council member Gilberto Reyna, honored Vincent van Gogh and World Bipolar Day and included Aztec dancers, ballet folklorico, art activities, live mural painting and three mental-health speakers. Veronica, an organizer and festival presenter, told the council the event aimed to reduce stigma and share resources; she said, “it is possible to live a happy and healthy life” while describing her two-decade experience living with bipolar disorder.
Organizers said the festival produced visible economic activity downtown and direct benefits for participants. Veronica said one participating artist, Jose Silva, sold nearly $3,000 in artwork including two paintings sold at $1,200 each. Council members and staff noted local businesses reported increased foot traffic and sales during the festival.
The city also presented a separate youth-arts initiative tied to the Seventh Street renovation. The city will use student artwork to wrap 15 new downtown trash cans. Teachers from the Wasco Unified School District, including high-school art teacher Julie Pinnell and elementary teachers Cassandra Martin and Vanessa Bickers, provided drawings created on a short timeline; the pieces have been displayed on the city's Veterans Park LED board.
Council members suggested additional uses for the student artwork, such as a city calendar pending parental permission. The council and staff thanked teachers and volunteers and noted that NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has committed to hold mental-health workshops at Saint John the Evangelist Church Hall; a start date was not specified in the meeting.
Organizers and council members said they hope the festival will become an annual event and that the public-art project will increase downtown pride and visibility for student artists.
