San Jose, CA – May 20, 2024 – The San Jose Downtown Foundation (SJDF) is excited to announce the 21st Annual Downtown Doors Reception, held on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the San Jose Museum of Art. The Downtown Doors reception celebrates the artistic achievements of high school students from across San Jose. This year’s event honors the creativity and vision of young artists who transform urban spaces into vibrant public galleries.
“Downtown Doors is one of the best programs the San Jose Downtown Foundation supports,” said Katia McClain, SJD Foundation Trustee and Partner at Steinberg Hart. “It is not only a way to bring art pieces to our downtown, but it is also an opportunity to engage high school artists with the power that art brings to our daily lives and springboard their talent to be enjoyed by the community.”
Downtown Doors Program:
The Downtown Doors program, SJDF’s signature initiative, beautifies public spaces by displaying student artwork on doors and utility boxes. This program not only enhances the downtown area but also provides students with a platform to express their perspectives through art and mass media. Each year, the works of more than 20 students are showcased at over 100 locations, delighting and surprising passersby.
Visit https://sjdowntown.com/doors/ for more information, walking maps of Door sites and a path to donations.
Additionally, each school with winning students will receive a $650 honorarium to support their art programs.
2024 Traditional Category Winners:
- Mitchel Tran from Independence High School
- Instructor: Brandi Fabricius
- Sponsor: City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs
- Site Host: City of San José, 96 N 2nd St (utility box)
- Artwork: “East San Jose”
- Yulong Gong from Notre Dame High School
- Instructor: Chris Johnson
- Sponsor: City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs
- Site Host: Signia by Hilton San Jose, 170 S Market St (West side near main entrance)
- Artwork: “People Watching”
- Elsa Engebretson from Willow Glen High School
- Instructor: Sandra Holland
- Sponsor: City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs
- Site Host: Signia by Hilton San Jose, 170 S Market St (on S 1st St side)
- Artwork: “Fever Dream”
- Danielle Tyner from Abraham Lincoln High School
- Instructor: Sofia Arredondo
- Sponsor: City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs
- Site Host: San Jose State University, Paseo de San Antonio & S 1st St
- Artwork: “Non-Stop”
- Crystal Nguyen from Independence High School
- Instructor: Brandi Fabricius
- Sponsor: City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs
- Site Host: Signia by Hilton San Jose, 170 S Market St (North side of the hotel)
- Artwork: “Somewhere Only We Know”
- Amane Mori from Westmont High School
- Instructor: Amanda Borges
- Sponsor: City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs
- Site Host: Signia by Hilton San Jose, 170 S Market St (on 1st & San Fernando between Paseo & Pagoda)
- Artwork: “You’re Here!”
- Adam Noke from Leigh High School
- Instructor: Kimberly Bartel
- Sponsor: SVCreates
- Site Host: Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio (on Paseo de San Antonio & Third Street)
- Artwork: “Game Night Epiphany”
- Alias Foot from Independence High School
- Instructor: Virginia Ingelfinger
- Sponsor: City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs
- Site Host: City of San José, 2 S Market St (utility box in front of The GlassHouse)
- Artwork: “Filipino Youth”
- Victoria Winch from Willow Glen High School
- Instructor: Sandra Holland
- Sponsor: Councilmember Peter Ortiz
- Site Host: AC Hotel San Jose Downtown, 350 W Santa Clara St (87 off-ramp and Santa Clara)
- Artwork: “Girls!”
- Zoey Crisan from Archbishop Mitty High School
- Instructor: Ryan Olein
- Sponsor: City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs
- Site Host: Signia by Hilton San Jose, 170 S Market St (Circle of Palms Plaza at 1st Street)
- Artwork: “Distortion”
- Vanessa Son from Santa Teresa High School
- Instructor: Autumn Juhl
- Sponsor: City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs
- Site Host: Signia by Hilton San Jose, 170 S Market St (on S 1st Street side)
- Artwork: “Umma’s Hands”
- Kara Fan from Notre Dame San Jose
- Instructor: Sandy Mahler
- Sponsor: Republic Services
- Site Host: 50 West, Passageway between 50 W. San Fernando and the San Jose Museum of Art
- Artwork: “Overcoming Hardships”
- Megan Luong from Notre Dame High School
- Instructor: Chris Johnson
- Sponsor: Councilmember Peter Ortiz
- Site Host: San Jose Marriott, 301 S Market St (on San Carlos St side)
- Artwork: “Gold Áo Dài”
- Bonnie James from Willow Glen High School
- Instructor: Sandra Holland
- Sponsor: City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs
- Site Host: Signia by Hilton San Jose, 170 S Market St
- Artwork: “Take A Dive”
- Daisy Escamilla from Del Mar High School
- Instructor: Annie Alston
- Sponsor: City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs
- Site Host: Signia by Hilton San Jose, 170 S Market St
- Artwork: “Sweetness Ain’t Everything”
- Casey Kim from Westmont High School
- Instructor: Amanda Borges
- Sponsor: Ernest and Irene Pestana Charitable Foundation Inc.
- Site Host: The Studio Climbing, 396 S 1st Street
- Artwork: “Characterized by Flaws”
- Isabelle Oberhofer from Westmont High School
- Instructor: Amanda Borges
- Sponsor: SVCreates
- Site Host: Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio (facing the plaza and Second Street)
- Artwork: “Cafe Scene”
- Alyssa Becks from Leigh High School
- Instructor: Kimberly Bartel
- Sponsor: SVCreates
- Site Host: Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio (facing the plaza and Second Street)
- Artwork: “Jazz Club”
- Lillian Su from Archbishop Mitty High School
- Instructor: Ryan Olein
- Sponsor: City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs
- Site Host: Signia by Hilton San Jose, 170 S Market St (West side of the hotel near the main entrance)
- Artwork: “Contentment”
- Minh-Khang Le from Evergreen Valley High School
- Instructor: Rachael Jacob
- Sponsor: Councilmember Omar Torres
- Site Host: San Jose Marriott, 301 S Market St (on San Carlos St side)
- Artwork: “Mission Blue”
This year, we are celebrating the San Jose Earthquakes 50th anniversary, and students were invited to create an art piece relating to the appeal of soccer and its connection to people and cultures globally. Guest Speaker Tommy Thompson of the San Jose Earthquakes was in attendance to recognize these student winners. Students could enter – and win – in either or both the Special Soccer and Traditional categories.
Soccer’s origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations, but it was during the 19th century in England that the modern version of the sport emerged. With just a ball and an open space, anyone, regardless of age, gender, or social status, can partake in the sport’s exhilarating charm.
Soccer transcends barriers, inviting people from all walks of life to join the beautiful game. 2024 Soccer Category Winners:
- Anoushka Vijay from Notre Dame San Jose
- Instructor: Chris Johnson
- Sponsor: San Jose Earthquakes
- Site Host: San Jose Marriott, 301 S Market St (on Market St side)
- Artwork: “The Little Things”
- Angelina Quin from Evergreen Valley High School
- Instructor: Rachael Jacob
- Sponsor: San Jose Earthquakes
- Site Host: Signia by Hilton San Jose, 170 S Market St (left side of the main entrance)
- Artwork: “Captured Moment”
- Melany Cansino Madrigal from Willow Glen High School
- Instructor: Sandra Holland
- Sponsor: San Jose Earthquakes
- Site Host: The Westin San Jose, 302 S Market St (on Market St side)
- Artwork: “Fire In You”
Additional Initiatives:
Beyond Downtown Doors, the Foundation supports various art projects such as murals and business window art to enrich the urban landscape. During the COVID-19 pandemic, SJDF assisted vandalized businesses and sponsored the Hella Gardens project, where artists decorated downtown doors and window fronts with floral paintings.
Acknowledgments:
The San Jose Downtown Foundation extends its heartfelt thanks to the event sponsors, including the Ernest and Irene Pestana Charitable Foundation Inc., the City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs, San Jose Earthquakes, and SVCreates.
CONTACT: Robert Robledo, Director of Marketing and Communications, rrobledo@sjdowntown.com; (408) 464-6992
About San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA): The San Jose Downtown Association is a membership-based nonprofit organization created in 1986 to provide marketing, advocacy, public art, and clean and safe initiatives on behalf of 2,000+ member businesses and property owners in Downtown San Jose. SJDA’s mission is to support the members’ vision of a vibrant Downtown San Jose for everyone.
