Thoughts on Creative Placemaking for the City of Martinez

M.C. Escher Relativity 1953 Lithograph

When I first considered what a Creative Placemaking plan for the City of Martinez could look like, I began seeing synergy throughout our downtown. And in a random stream of consciousness I threw ideas into an e-mail and hit the send button.

The bottom floor of the Sharkey building hosts the Martinez Arts Association. There is an entire upstairs floor that I see housing our In Motion dance instructors.

Some see the cement quonset hut structures behind the Amtrak Intermodal Station as a sports complex, I see a fully functioning sound stage where environment focused programing is produced.

I see our nascent film festival growing and including an environmental theme to be judged and awarded the John Muir award for best...

Where some fear the exodus of county jobs, I see an opportunity to repurpose the spaces and create affordable living space for creative/artistic people. Where there are tan and bland building walls, I see murals.

I see the City of Martinez radiating with creative talents, and like the sun radiates and all of creation strains to feel it's warmth, I see people being drawn, naturally, to our Downtown Historic District without the need for gimmick or guile.

Like the lithograph depicts, it's all in the way you see things.