Reposted from the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Name Dropping column, 10/31/06

Written by Peggy Townsend

Dedication of Santa Cruz's newest public art place took place on Pacific Avenue recently. The occasion was the introduction of a 100-foot mural created by students from the Young Artists' Studio at the site of the Rittenhouse project downtown. The artwork features a flowing collection of self images created by students in the program for disabled youth, which is funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to Shared Adventures.

According to STEVE MILLER, the mural site was prepared by Slatter Construction with the project itself led by noted muralist CRYSTAL BIRNS and assistant TEMPE HALE.

The dedication was led by emcee KIM EVANS GARCIA, who is the studio program coordinator and recognized the leadership team from Shared Adventures, FOSTER ANDERSEN, STEVE MILLER and AMY STODDARD; Slatter Construction project foreman MIKE BETHKE; city graffiti patrolman BOB FARMER; JULIE HENDEE from the Redevelopment Agency; and LINDA BIXBY from the Arts Commission. Santa Cruz City Councilman MIKE ROTKIN also proclaimed it Young Artists' Studio Day in the city.

KRISTIN CARLTON and BRIANNA HOLEMAN, two students who worked on the mural, did the official ribbon cutting.
Spotted in the crowd were OCTAVIO and CAMILLA GARCIA, CORINNE MILLER, YVONNE RODRIGUEZ and TIM and GINNY FITZMAURICE.