Irvine Inspired - Part 6: Arts

Irvine Inspired pa r t 6 : a r t s

A 10-part series celebrating the people and milestones in and around Great Park Neighborhoods as the community celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Arts: Creating Cultural Understanding and Identity

Since the beginning of time, art has been a tool for cultural expression and education. It helps you tap into your emotions, understand your surroundings, and connect with your community. In short, it makes us feel alive.

It’s why Great Park Neighborhoods fully embraces the significant and life-enriching role the arts play in the community and society. Since its inception 10 years ago, Great Park Neighborhoods has been intentional in introducing places and activities that encourage artful expression and exploration.

Pranoy, a 15 year-old student from Beacon Park, has been passionate about creating art since he was little. He won two Great Park Neighborhoods art competitions in recent years. Fellow residents voted his “Dazzling Parasol Park” color pencil drawing of the zip line and play structures at Parasol Park (pictured above) as the top selection in a 2021 art show at Cadence Park. His second neighborhood-inspired drawing, called “Paradise in Beacon Park Treehouse,” was also a winner.

“I felt really proud of the results,” Pranoy said. “I felt confident to draw more art pieces.”

Neighborhood arts engagement programs

To cultivate a love for the arts in young people like

OC-based artist Thomas Clark designed initial outlines

Pranoy and those who are young at heart, Great

for two large murals and cut them into individual 8”

Park Neighborhoods’ community association hosts

x 8” tiles. Residents and the greater community then

numerous youth and adult programs that encourage

painted colorful designs onto the tiles, which had

artistic expression. They include Music Course, Dance,

individual numbers on the back of each that were used

Zumba, Bharatnatyam, Drawing and Painting Classes,

to assemble both murals.

Sand Art Classes, Lego & Art, and Kids Arts and Crafts.

The completed artwork from the Oct. 14 event was donated to Second Harvest Food Bank and is now

Residents were also invited to participate in two recent

on display at its warehouse at the Great Park (click

collaborative art projects: one during a Great Park

here to watch a time-lapse video of the art being

Neighborhoods anniversary event at the Great Park

assembled). There are plans to install art from the

Balloon on Sept. 26, and the other at the Great Park

second mural in a clubhouse within Great Park

Neighborhoods booth during Irvine Global Village

Neighborhoods’ upcoming eighth community, Luna

Festival at the Great Park on Oct. 14.

Park, once it’s constructed.

“Great Park Neighborhoods has been intentional in introducing places and activities that encourage artful expression and exploration.”

Artful parks

While all nine parks within Great Park Neighborhoods

buildings that celebrate music, dance, visual arts,

have their own unique artistic style and design, the

and literature. The adjacent art walk contains

fullest celebration of the arts is found at Cadence Park

murals, traditional sculpture, and interactive musical

(located across the street from the art-deco-designed

sculptures. It also features a student-created

Cadence Park School.

sculpture from the adjacent Portola High School, and

Cadence Park includes three uniquely designed

works from notable artists such as Jen Stark, Aaron de la Cruz, and Sage Vaughn.

arts in education Great Park Neighborhoods’ four schools also offer an abundance of artistic opportunities.

To foster creativity and collaboration at an early age, the community’s three K-8 schools have dedicated music rooms with storage spaces for students’ instruments.

Portola High School has 2D and 3D art and music rooms, and a 720-seat performing arts facility that hosts theater and dance productions.

Students’ talent across the four schools — and the larger network of schools within Irvine — is as impressive as the facilities themselves. Irvine Unified School District has received 12 GRAMMY Signature Awards and has been nationally recognized as a “Best Community for Music Education” by the highly regarded NAMM Foundation for 10 consecutive years.

Art brings hope City of Hope Orange County wv Foundation Cancer Center in Irvine has also partnered with Great Park Neighborhoods on art-related initiatives in recent years.

The first was Hope Lives in OC, a county-wide initiative in 2021 where more than 35 artists whose lives have been touched by cancer unveiled street art expressing themes of hope. Great Park Neighborhoods’ Cadence Park joined other landmarks such as Disneyland Resort, John Wayne Airport, Anaheim Packing District and Great Park in participating.

The second collaboration was an invitation by Great Park Neighborhoods to create a card or drawing to show appreciation and celebrate the contributions of local nurses. The submissions were displayed on life-size HOPE letters located outside of City of Hope Orange County’s Irvine cancer campus on May 12 (in honor of International Nurses Day).

Music = memories

Great Park Neighborhoods has a longstanding history of bringing music-loving residents together through programs such as Jam Band Club and Concerts in the Park.

Operation Gig, launched in 2021 by Irvine-based nonprofit Orange County Music & Dance, was particularly meaningful for residents and those who serve our country. Veterans and active-duty military

Beacon Park that summer, which ended with residents forming a dance train as the band played Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration.” A good time was had by all.

living within Great Park Neighborhoods and elsewhere

To emphasize its proximity to local arts facilities

were invited to participate in one of three free music

and world-class cultural institutions, Great Park

programs: learn-to-play classes for beginners, jam

Neighborhoods is hosting a 10th-anniversary-themed

sessions for intermediate-level musicians, and band

VIP experience at a performance of Dr. Seuss’ The

rehearsals for experienced players interested in

Grinch Who Stole Christmas! The Musical at the Center

performing in front of an audience.

(playing Dec. 19–24). Ten lucky winners—picked

Operation Gig participants played a free concert at

through a local drawing – will receive Center Room VIP/donor lounge access and tickets to the show.

fun fact Members of multi-platinum-selling band Young the Giant ignited their love for music and performing at Irvine schools. Lead singer Sameer Gadhia: “We are a product of Irvine. All of our parents traveled from around the world to raise us there because of its school system. In these schools, we all learned instruments through the music departments. We met through the strong local music scene in high school. Irvine is a gem: a place where people of all religions, races, and cultures meet to achieve their dreams. We have stayed true to our Irvine roots because we believe in the power of its community. We want to show the world the power of Irvine’s art and music scene.”