I Love Pleasanton

A self-taught artist originally from Brazil, Tatiana Salvator painted the utility box at the corner of Ray Street and First. One panel “Community, Connect and Believe”, encourages recycling with many people featured under the banner “Better Together”. A side panel shows a sitting boy and girl reading with the refrain “Achieve” above them. Another side is bordered by the Pleasanton arch with “Keep it Local, Learn and Reduce Reuse”. The fourth panel is a field of actively engaged community members enjoying a park setting with the “Keeping our city clean” sign clearly in focus. The final panel is framed around a girl’s shirt message, which reads “Conserve Water “with a triangle of Recycle above her head and a water bucket at her feet. Tatiana’s family members- her brother, sons, and nephews are found in the painting. The artist also included people who stopped by to talk as she was creating the artwork for the “Project Paint Box” in 2015.

Gary and Nancy Harrington contributed to this artwork through their donation to the Harrington Art Gallery. “Project Paint Box” intended to beautify the city of Pleasanton and deter graffiti. Artists submitted their proposal to the Civic Arts Commission and the subcommittee PASS composed of representatives of the Civic Arts Commission, Park and Recreation Commission, City landscaping staff and other staff members. A small stipend of $500 was offered to Tatiana. The Harringtons augmented that amount in recognition of her four week effort to complete the painted utility box.

Jan Coleman-Knight