06/23/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/23/2025 19:29
The City of West Hollywood invites the community to an Art on the Outside pop-up art installation and participatory event on Sunday, July 6, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Plummer Park, adjacent to the Summer Sounds concert occurring that afternoon, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. No RSVP is necessary and craft-making is open to all ages.
Ventanas Huicholas is a one-day public artwork and participatory event by San Diego-based artist Natalie Gonzalez made of Tsikuris, which are traditional votive objects made by weaving a design out of yarn on two wooden sticks. (Tsikuris translates to God's Eyes from the Wirarika indigenous language of Mexico). They are commonly found in some native communities of northwest Mexico and throughout the southwest United States.
God's Eyes is a ritual tool that was believed to protect those while they pray, a magical object, and an ancient cultural symbol evoking the weaving motif and its spiritual associations. The community is invited to participate in a simple crafting exercise making their own God's Eyes alongside the artist on Sunday, July 6, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Plummer Park, concurrent with the free Summer Sounds concert in the park that afternoon.
The Huichol, also known as Wixárika, are an Indigenous people of Mexico, primarily residing in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range. They are known for preserving their unique culture and traditions, including intricate art forms and deep spiritual practices. They call their God's Eyes "Tsikuri," which means "the power to see and understand things unknown." During Spanish colonial times, God's Eyes were placed where people worked, or where they walked along a trail. The artwork celebrates the rich heritage of the Huichol culture while speaking to the multinational character of Southern California.
Natalie Gonzalez was born in Los Angeles but spent much of her upbringing in Mexico. She earned her degree in Cultural Management from the Universidad de Guadalajara. Gonzalez has extensive experience working with public art projects, as a visual artist, art curator, and outreach coordinator. Her artistic endeavors are centered around acrylic, mixed media, and art installations, characterized by the use of simple shapes, lines, and organic imagery. She contributed to ENVZN2023: Urban Art Takeover by Vanguard Culture in San Diego and is the Exhibitions Coordinator at the Oceanside Museum of Art West Gallery.
The Art on the Outside Program is the City of West Hollywood's temporary art program that installs rotating artworks throughout the city. The artworks can include sculpture, murals, digital art, and other outdoor works. Most exhibitions remain on display between six months and three years. All projects are subject to the Art on the Outside Program Review and Approval Process. The program is funded through the Public Beautification & Art Fund.
The City of West Hollywood's Arts Division delivers a broad array of arts programs including Art on the Outside (temporary public art), Arts Grants, City Poet Laureate, Drag Laureate, Free Theatre in the Parks, Library Exhibits, Summer Sounds + Winter Sounds, Urban Art (permanent public art), WeHo Pride Arts Festival, and WeHo Reads. For more information about City of West Hollywood arts programming, please visit https://www.weho.org/arts.
For more information about the City of West Hollywood's Art on the Outside program, please contact Marcus Mitchell, the City of West Hollywood's Public Art Administrator at (323) 848-3122 or at mmitchell@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.
For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at https://www.weho.org/email, and visit the City's calendar of meetings and events at https://www.weho.org/calendar. Receive text updates by texting "WeHo" to (323) 848-5000.
For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood's Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or slunn@weho.org.