SEED Mural Project (2018)

Artists: Kia Duras, Brandan “BMike” Odums, and Astro
Photos courtesy of SEED

Public Art Plants the Seed in Stockton
by Cara Rose Defabio
Economic Security Project

Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) project is the nation’s guaranteed income initiative. A collaboration between the Office of former Mayor Michael Tubbs, the Reinvent Stockton Foundation, the Economic Security Project, and the residents of Stockton, California, SEED aims to test a simple, yet innovative, solution to poverty and inequality.

In 2018, Andrew Laubie, the founder of Street Art Anarchy, reached out to SEED to suggest using public art as way to create more public awareness about the program and as a tool for community engagement. Street Art Anarchy works internationally with non-profits and human rights groups to produce public art projects. SEED selected three artists to produce public murals for the project:

Kia Duras, Stockton @ colorfulkia
Plant the Seed (216 N. California St)

The tree is a symbol of strength and hope that the SEED project will provide to the Stockton community.

Brandan “BMike” Odums, New Orleans @ bmike2c
Street Always Lead with Love (23 S. Stanislaus St.)

The portrait is a tribute to Jasmine DellaFosse, a Stockton youth organizer and pillar of the community.

Astro, Paris, France @ astro_odv_cbs
Power Through (215 N. California St.)

A 3-dimensional, abstract version of Maslow’s Pyramid model used to depict the hierarchy of human needs (from low to high: physiological, safety, love/belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualizing).