Crucible

This permanent mural for the Arts and Humanities building parking garage at San Diego City College reflects how the climate and culture of San Diego influenced the development of the skateboard community here. The practice arose in this locale from surf culture, as an activity for surfers to ride concrete boardwalks when the ocean was still. It incorporates roller skating wheels with small board-like platforms. Each of these communities foster aesthetic and athletic development, encourage autonomy and inclusivity, and provide connections to networks of friends. This work also references the Light and Space Movement, a practice originating in Southern California environments in which spatial volume and lighting conditions are the medium itself. Hence, reflective paint was chosen for the ways in which it shifts perceptions, as car headlights and pedestrians pass through the space.