Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carol Rogers. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Carol, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful project I have been involved in is Esco Alley Art, “we believe that art should be for all and by all” https://escoalleyart.com/. In 2021 I was invited to join a group of artists and local business owners to create an outdoor art gallery. The project gave our community a purpose during a very dark time.
We installed 33 murals in three phases in 2021, the murals are unique as the artists themselves. The only criteria; the subject matter is family friendly with no political agenda.
The offer to the artists was that we would supply the canvas, a stipend for materials and list the artist contact information on our website and promote them on social media. If a mural sold the artist receives a portion of the sale price.
At first the project was funded by committee members and the Downtown Business Association. When the first phase was installed the Public Art Commission offered to help move it forward.
In all over 3 years we have filled 3 blocks of alleys with more than 70 murals created by as many individual artists. Over time we had to move the first phase of murals due to construction at the original site. The community is excited to discover some of their favorites in new locations.
We learned a lot, as this was considered a temporary installation, the murals were painted on panels rather than directly on the walls. We started with plywood panels, they were heavy and needed a lot of preparation and over time many warped. Because the budget was tight the committee did the all work including installation themselves. By 2022 we learned of a lightweight aluminum composite material that made everyone’s job easier and promised longevity for the murals themselves. In 2023 we upped our game again by hiring a professional art installer to hang the murals.
What we thought would be a temporary installation to get people out of their homes during the shut down has become a jewel in our City. Hanging art in the alleys changed forgotten spaces where people conduct business we prefer not to discuss to active art destinations. We often see people wandering the alleys enjoying the art, you can easily spend hours viewing Esco Alley Art and other murals in downtown.
In the beginning we begged artists to paint and over time we have a waitlist of artists wanting to paint. Our most recent mural was painted by a German artist, Sebastian Stehr who discovered the project through a social media connection with one of our mural artists. The mural titled “What is Love” one wall in his “100 wall project”.
We celebrate each phase of installation with an unveiling ceremony, as I reflect at those events, I think about how many yeses it takes to make a project like this happen; the artists, the building owners, the business occupying the space, the City, the Public Art Commission and the team that bring them together.
Community at its best!
Carol, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My artistic endeavors really took off when I joined my husband’s glass blowing studio and gallery business 20 years ago. At first, I worked in the background, helping at art shows and handling administrative tasks behind the scenes. When I lost my job in the economic down turn I joined his business full time and found that my experience in operations and manufacturing was a great fit in an art studio. In 2015 we made the decision to change the business model and move closer to a larger artist community, Escondido.
Once settled in the new studio we looked for ways to connect in the community and found that although Escondido is home to many independent artists and galleries the community seemed disconnected. I met with the tourism manager who asked if I would be willing to help create a group with the purpose of promoting Escondido as an arts and culture destination. Our first brain storming session was held in March of 2016 and MAGEC (museums and arts growing Escondido culture) was born. Leaders from all avenues of art and culture come together on a monthly basis to network, share and develop ideas, collaborate to solve problems and create artistic events to serve our community.
Some of our most notable projects include;
Art in the Garden, an intimate juried art show held in conjunction with the Street Festivals held twice a year in May and October. The first show of its kind in Escondido, began in October 2018 with just 12 artists booths and has grown to include more than 40 artists from all over southern California. We always include free hands-on art activities to children and adults.
Art in the Garden is my baby, early in my husband’s professional art career we would participate in as many as 26 art shows a year, I saw the importance of this as an avenue for artists to show and sell their work and develop a following. Although we had street fairs twice a year in Escondido, there was no focus on art. Grouping art has a bigger impact making it a destination within the festival. Art in the Garden is a good choice particularly for young and emerging artists, that need an affordable option to interact the public and see the reaction to their work. I also believe that museums and galleries can be intimidating, by bringing art into the street you make it accessible, the casual atmosphere draws people in. The most satisfying moments are when an artist makes their first big sale or a patron makes their first significant art purchase.
We publish a map that includes murals, galleries, museums and theater venues that is distributed at participating locations.
Joining Esco Alley Art allowed me to continue to work on bringing art to the public.That mission was elevated again in November of 2023 with the appointment to the Escondido Public Art Commission
I am an Escondido Public Art Commissioner
Committee member – Esco Alley Art https://escoalleyart.com/
Facilitator – MAGEC (Museum and Arts Growing Escondido Culture)
Organizer – Art in the Garden a twice a year art show inside the Escondido Street Festival
Treasurer – Escondido Downtown Business Association
I managed my husband’s glass blowing studio and gallery for 22 years https://stoneandglass.com/
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
We had 4 months to find a site, coordinate local artist contributions, get it through the permit process and raise the money to cover the cost of installation. It was a little scary, we just kept moving forward believing it would all come together – we received the permit the day before the installation.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of what I do is seeing people succeed. I know artists that painted a mural in the first phase of Esco Alley Art that are now making their living through art.
A teenage autistic artist that has two murals in Esco Alley Art
A young downs syndrome woman that shows and sells her artwork in Art in the Garden
A 12-year-old girl that started in Art in the Garden and now shows her work in local galleries.
Artists bringing their family and friends to see the Global Roots mural and pointing out their contribution.
Esco Alley Art listed as a must see in the New York Times and mentioned over and over again when people talk about public art in Escondido.
Hearing people/organizations come together at a MAGEC meeting and seeing the results of their collaborations.
Groups of as many as 90 school children touring our City to see Esco Alley Art and other murals in downtown.
Receiving an email from an international artist saying I heard about Esco Alley Art and would like to paint.
A phone call from a neighboring North County San Diego City complimenting us on our public art presence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://escoalleyart.com/
- Instagram: @coe.rogers
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-rogers-fillion-30771b20/
Image Credits
David Zumaya Mark Skovorodko Ernie Cowan