Be Magical & Stay Radical: Santa Cruz Radical Faeries
Melissa Marzan
Melissa Marzan She/Her/Hers
Be Magical & Stay Radical: Santa Cruz Radical Faeries
Riverside Drive / San Lorenzo
Description: This piece is a dedication to the historical contributions of the Santa Cruz Radical Faeries, to honor the founders, and a celebration of love and support for our Trans & BIPOC/AAPI individuals in the Santa Cruz community. This is a tribute to those who came before us; A reminder of their legacy, inspiring today's and future generations of the LGBTQIA+ Community. Be sure to see both sides of the utility box so you can take your photo with the wings to represent how you are also magical and radical.
Artist Bio: I was born in Watsonville and raised in Castroville. With a lot of my family living in Watsonville, I was raised between Monterey & Santa Cruz County. I went to field trips to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and my parents would take me fishing on the pier and on the beaches. After attending college at UC Davis, I moved to Santa Cruz in 2017 to work for the Santa Cruz Warriors. Through my time there I dove into the Santa Cruz lifestyle while also giving back to the community through public service work through the Santa Cruz Warriors organization. And even after I stopped working there, I continue to live in Santa Cruz and have joined the local art community creating public art works for everyone to enjoy.
Artist Sketch
As a hand lettering & illustration artist, I believe that words have the power to make an impact on how we see and experience the world. My art is a vessel for positive change, and as a way to process and explore my emotions. I see my work as a starting point to conversations about emotional vulnerability, cultivating community, ocean conservation, and my experience as a Queer/Bisexual Filipino-American. My art style is heavily inspired by my childhood being raised near the ocean in the central coast, always visiting the beaches, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and trips to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I also primarily work with a blue color palette because it can symbolize honesty and radiates friendly and calming energy. With my work, I help others realize the things about themselves that make them special and remind them that their unique voices and stories are important in the journey of finding their own styles and passions in this life. Through my art, I share waves of positivity over the daily struggles of our human existence and build a community of courage through vulnerability. By living and creating art authentically, I inspire others to become the bravest version of themselves.
Historical Context: Radical Faeries
