Hello friends! We are thrilled to announce some exciting news on Lacey Bryant’s upcoming series of projects as we are collaborating with First Community Housing; an award-winning non-profit, Public Benefit Housing Development Corporation, located in San Jose, California.
A special “thank you” to Bianey Martinez, Sr. Asset Manager for First Community Housing. It has been a great process working with Bianey and the non-profit organization that is so invested in the people and staff that provide the social work.
Lacey’s studio work in oil is often composed from multiple sources: life, photo references, and imagination. These paintings range from large atmospheric pieces to intimate portraits on cigar boxes. Diorama, murals, and installation are natural extensions of her work in theatre. When Lacey is not creating work in her studio or commissioned for a mural, she is working on painting and creating sets for theme parks and theatres, and carving sculptures. While quarantining over the last few months, Lacey has been actively providing sculpture carving services for a public art festival in Oakland, California. These life-sized sculptures are no challenge for Lacey, even if they stand twice as tall as her! Read more HERE about Lacey’s experience over the past five years creating Chinese parade Zodiacs. This is just one of many talents in her diverse portfolio.
Currently taking a break from sculptures, Lacey has dived deep into pencil sketches and oil painting renderings as these are her preferred mediums to scale her murals. She starts off with a very loose sketch of her mural’s concept, which evolves into a final, highly detailed product.
Lacey’s first mural for First Community Housing will be installed in one of their properties’ bike storage room; which provides mechanical services for residents who commute and travel by bike from Downtown San Jose.
Her mural depicts the Valley’s highline featuring Mount Umunhum. It also features her favorite subject: everyday people of all generations. A woman is almost flying mid-air on her bike while being pulled by her kite. A young boy is racing alongside his speedy pet rabbit. Lastly, a cute fur baby is taking a cruise with his buddy on an ubiquitous red, yellow, and green Google bike which can be randomly found abandoned in various parts of our city.
San Jose, aka the capital of Silicon Valley, is one of the iconic places for bike culture. Phil Wood Company builds racing equipment for cyclists competing in the Hellyer Velodrome. Original clunker bike creators like Ritchey and Gary Fisher learned how to manufacture disc brakes on mountain bikes from some locals in Alviso, eventually revolutionizing the mountain bike industry. Specialized is a globally recognized cycling company and is based in Morgan Hill, a neighbor to San Jose.
Since 1986, First Community Housing has created housing for more than 3,300 low-income residents in 20 affordable rental housing developments (over 1,400 units) throughout the San Francisco Bay region. The low-income populations they serve include families, senior citizens, and individuals, They also serve special needs populations such as the chronically ill, the developmentally disabled, and consumers of mental health services.
As Lacey wraps up her first project, we will be providing updates for our subscribers, and final photos once all three projects are complete. In the meantime, tune in and everyone please continue to stay safe and healthy!
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