July 2015 mag small

mercedarthop.org l This Inspiration

Artist of the Quarter

07.18.2015

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JALLUSSEE MEDINA

Inside : Photo Contest | Scavenger Hunt | Community Progress

About Us Dear Reader and Art Enthusiasist, In the last 7 years, the Merced Art Hop has strived to make the arts more prominent in our city. With help from our wonderful volunteers, and the support of patrons such as you, we've been able to do everything from establishing this magazine and becoming the #1 event as voted by Main Street merchants to achieving our 501c3 Non-Profit status and receiving funding from the city. These steps allowed us to expand both the presence of the arts and commerce in the Main Street area.

But we're not the only ones achieving great things, and the arts are just one facet of what can make our city a better place, so this quarter we took a look into other local non-profit organizations to see what they've been up to. We took a look into animal well-being, , efforts to achieve equality, and access to healthy food. This quarter's art provides a unique look into these subjects from the view of artists with a first-person perspective of these concerns. So while art is beautiful, it also has a greater purpose to aspire to by serving as a catalyst for change and propelling us foward.

Kevin Hammon & Kimberly Zamora Art Hop Co-Founders

FIND US WEBSITE : www.MercedArtHop.org FACEBOOK : www.Facebook.com/DowntownMAH TWITTER : www.Twitter.com/MercedArtHop EMAIL : Kimberly@MercedArtHop.org ADVERTISING : 209-560-MAH1 MAILING ADDRESS : Post Office Box 3351 Merced, CA 95344 2

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PUBLISHER Kevin Hammon EDITORIAL

John Miller

MARKETING Kevin Hammon DESIGN Kimberly Zamora Creative Director Chloe Peterson

Graphic Designer

PHOTOGRAPHY John Miller PRINT Brightdart Print & Design EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kimberly Zamora PRESIDENT/CEO Kevin Hammon BOARD MEMBERS Jared Covert Desiree Flores Herrera Kimberly Zamora Kevin Hammon Notice of CopyrightŠ All materials contained within the Merced Art Hop Quarterly publication are protected by copyright unless otherwise stated, or in the case of any provided materials, the owner of that content retains the copyright. You may not alter, reproduce, distribute, publish, transmit or broadcast any material contained within the Merced Art Hop Quarterly publication without prior consent from the Merced Art Hop Board or othercopyright owner.

Merced Art Hop Quarterly takes care to ensure that all information is correct at the time of printing; however the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained within the publication or advertisements. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or editorial staff.

ARTIST OF THE QUARTER PAGE 6

Contents

LIFELINE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PAGE 12

THE MAP PAGE 8

LGBT CENTER PAGE 10

SCAVENGER HUNT PAGE 14

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Jallussee Medina When did you find yourself first Qyou:picking up a camera and what made want to stick with photography over the years?

: I picked up my first camera at 12, and I loved taking the images to be developed and finding out what I had captured. I loved the emotions an image can portray and I loved the connection that my emotions had through a photograph.

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: Is there a particular style or type of Qmore photography you find yourself doing often than others? : I work primarily with portraits now, I love working with people and animals, it makes me beyond ecstatic to document precious moments and memories and be able to provide that in someone’s life.

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Are there any people or circumQing:stances that you find yourself drawinspiration from? What do you find yourself thinking about when you get behind a camera to create your work?

: I started in landscape and was constantly finding myself in old abandoned or torn down buildings or structures. I love seeing the mess and seeing what it could have been or even what it once was. It serves as a reminder for me that life is forever fleeting. I am constantly thinking "How in the world do I get what I see in my head?!" and all of a sudden I’m behind the camera and it clicks!

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What do you think viewers are Qthe:most struck by and take away from work in your portfolio? : I am constantly asked "How do you do that?!" so I guess my process is what sticks with them the most, a lot of people find emotions in a lot of my images, even though they are not always portraits, I hope they walk away having hope in art and just life itself.

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Can you tell me a little bit about Q:your featured photograph? : The image of the German Sheppard is a pup that was in the pound when I went to get the images. He was about a year or two. I don’t remember his name but I do remember he just wanted to play and have someone's attention.

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Do you think Pet Adoption is imQ:portant? : As a pet owner myself I feel that it’s important for people to take care and treat their pet as part of their family because essentially the individual is taking responsibility for the animal. I feel as though pet adoption

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mean finding a home or even giving these animals a bigger voice.

What projects are you currently on? Do you have any ideas Qfor:working future work rolling around in your head that you'd like to get started?

: I am currently working on a project that will tell people stories through a series of portraits, a lot of the stories have rough parts, because these people have past's that they have had to overcome and make them stronger people. I am hoping to have it done by October this year. I want to do another project with the youth; something that’s dreamier with fantasy, hopefully after I am done with my current project.

A is important, these animals are looking for loving homes where than can receive individual attention, almost every pup I encountered at the shelter just wanted a little bit of love. It was hard to not get attached because of how much they just wanted to play and be loved. : How do you feel about the stray population here in town?

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: I feel like the stray population is hard to deal with but it is getting better, a lot of people have stepped up in trying to rescue these animals and get them to better homes and just giving them hope in general.

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: Do you think photography can do something to help animals within a community?

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: I do feel like photography is something that could give these pups and kittens a brighter future, but a lot of the images I see of these animals are not exactly helping them. They look terrified in their pound photos and I know animals get comfortable once they know they can trust you.

That's when their personality shows, especially in an image, and it could

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can people check out your Q:Where work after the Art Hop? : They can go to Facebook.com/JallusseeMedinaPhoto

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Jallussee's work can be seen at Binary Systems during the Art Hop

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LGBT Center

Originally opened in August of 2014, the Merced Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community Center was met with support from a mix of residents ranging from students and baristas to lawyers and scientists and everyone in-between. Originally headed by the now defunct Merced Full Spectrum, which at the time was a 300 member strong group that worked to bring members of the LGBT population together, the center has since changed hands and operations were taken over by a dedicated group of volunteers under the direction of Gay Central Valley based out of Fresno, CA. During its year of operation, the LGBT Community Center has worked tirelessly to assist LGBT individuals, who are, according to the Center for American Progress, more likely to experience employment discrimination, homelessness at a young age, and discrimination and rejection from family members than the heterosexual population. The Center acted as host to regularly scheduled meetings for LGBT Full Spectrum and Parents, Families, Friends and Allies of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ).

Additional services offered throughout the year to the public included free American Sign Language meetings, free meeting 10

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spaces for public groups, housing We’Ced Youth Media’s magazine operations, the Merced chapter of the National Brown Beret meetings, and working with homeless accountability groups that work with the city to ensure that funds and services are used correctly and efficiently.

Shortly after news of the Supreme Court of the United States’ verdict legalizing marriage for all came down members and volunteers at the LGBT Center, while rejoicing for the historical decision, said that there is still much more to be done. Jazzmine Diaz, a volunteer for the organization, noted that “housing policies, workplace policies, and access to healthcare are all issues that still need to be addressed.” Among other issues that are present within the local area that the center worked to better, access to healthcare providers who are willing

and knowledgeable about the specific needs of the LGBT population was one of the biggest. Diaz went on to speak of a woman who had run into housing issues and family rejection after finishing her transitioning process. With nowhere to go, the 50 year old military veteran made her way to Merced, only to be met with online harassment that culminated in the police being sent to her house. After making her way into the Merced LGBT Center, volunteers offered her a comforting ear and personal feedback that brought additional needs into the light. In need of professional medical help, something that the LGBT Center is not equipped to offer, volunteers began to work with local and city resources. Their efforts located the one provider in the area who was willing to help, and while not directly trained in the specific issues members of the transgender population face, had knowledge in adjacent disciplines. After receiving the help she needed, the woman slowly got back on her feet, found love, and began a life with them.

Efforts like these however may soon be missing the happy ending, as recently Gay Central Valley announced that they would be ceasing operations of the Merced LGBT Center. They are currently looking for someone else to take over the operation of the center, as it was never their intention to run the center from such a distance, but rather to act as a resource to Merced Full Spectrum as they took on day to day operations and management of the center. Currently the Merced LGBT Center’s lease ends on August 1st, and offices at the location have been subleased, which would help lower monthly operating expenses for any community member(s) who step up to take over operations. Since the announcement, organizations have begun to step up to the plate, and any additional community members or organizations who would like to help continue the progress the Merced LGBT Center has made are encouraged to contact Gay Central Valley at 559.325.4429 or by email at info@GayCentralValley.org M A H

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Lifeline Community Development The LifeLine Community Development Center began helping local communities in 2007, with the goal of empowering impoverished neighborhoods to thrive by giving residents a voice and handing community decisions to the residents whom it will affect. Through their use of Asset Based Community Development Tools and Principals, LifeLine CDC has been able to assist local communities in developing everything from community centers in the Meadows Apartments that provide a safe area for children and youth theater programs that instill a love of the arts in young minds, to programs in Winton that help residents with their income taxes and conversational classes that help Spanish speakers learn English and vice versa by working with one another.

A more recently developed project that is currently standing across from their Winton Way location is the Winton Community Garden. A swash of bright greens highlighted by colorful local art, the project was developed in response to community members expressing difficulty in obtaining healthy vegetables and fresh fruits at an affordable price. The project draws on the cumulative assets of local residents as a way to accomplish their goals in a sustainable manner. “When people come together around a common goal, amazing things can happen” said LifeLine CDC Founding Director Monika Grasley. “People came up with new solutions that they never thought of before… and people took ownership of their health and moved forward.” Through the project, residents have learned more than just how to start and maintain a garden that will provide them with fresh produce and herbs, they have been given an opportunity to meet their neighbors, learn about one another, and come together through their work in the Community Garden.

And it appears that it is already providing additional dividends.

“We seldom just give handouts so we are asking people to participate in the garden 12 M A H

or with some of the other projects that are going on” said Grasley. That requirement to contribute in some manner seems to be key to the garden’s survival. “It has been amazing that in a town where graffiti and vandalism are rampant, nothing bad has happened to the garden.” Volunteers at the garden have noted that in the presence of something that provides so much good for the community, and has a community-wide network of workers who personally share in its maintenance, it seems that the area has been labeled “offlimits” by those whose actions might otherwise negatively impact it. It serves as a wonderful testament to the respect that both members of LifeLine CDC and the project have garnered from the community, and solidifies that that even in the absence of any managing organization, the community now has the tools to run the garden and it will remain.

LifeLine CDC’s Winton Community Center is run by Winton residents who look into the community to see what is needed, what the community has to work with, and then make decisions regarding what projects should be started. They focus on bringing health into the community and cutting down on crime, disharmony, health issues, and hardship by establishing projects that raise levels of community togetherness, peace and collaboration.

It is open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Currently the center is on the lookout for fresh fruit and vegetable plants, tools, soil, wood as well as volunteers and financial contributions. Other projects, such as the Kids’ Time program, can make use of crafting, general art and school supplies. Additionally, those with artistic talents can help the center by leading projects and working with the center on community art and mural projects. For more information on the center, residents are invited to stop by center during business hours at 7081 North Winton Way or by calling 209.201.2905 or emailing them at LifeLine@LifeLineCDC.org.

Valley Animal Hospital For the last 20 years, Jon Klingborg has been a practicing veterinarian in the Merced area.

Currently working with Valley Animal Hospital at 58 West 16th Street, Dr. Klingborg started down the road to become a veterinarian after looking into careers that involved the hard sciences while still working with the general public. His lifelong love of our four-legged friends made the decision to spend his time in college pursuing a career as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine the right choice for him an easy one to make.

“I am reminded every day about how great it is to be an animal doctor” said Dr. Klingborg.

“Every day, I come home with a story about an animal or their human best friend and something neat that happened.” The typically fun nature of working with animals however does have its more serious points however.

Especially as we head past the start of the Central Valley’s notoriously hot summers. “It's important for pet owners to realize that dogs and cats are designed to be most comfortable in the same temperatures that people prefer-between 60 to 80 degrees being ideal. They don't cool off by sweating like we do, so dogs and cats are very vulnerable to overheating” said Dr. Klingborg. Plenty of shade, access to cool grounds, freely moving air and access to fresh water throughout the day is vital for all pet’s well-being.

Those looking to bring a new pet into their home can take immediate steps as well to ensure that the new family member lives a long and healthy life. “Pet ownership is a Privilege

and not a Right, which means that pet owners have an obligation to take care of their pet — it's not up to society to provide and care for everyone's pet” said Dr. Klingborg. Putting his views into practice, Valley Animal Hospital participates with numerous rescue groups and low cost spay neuter programs to help control the pet overpopulation problem. “Veterinarians have been telling owners for years about the problems of not having a pet fixed, including increased risk of cancer and behavioral problems” said Dr. Klingborg. “Simply put, pets that are spayed or neutered will live longer, have fewer health problems and fewer behavior problems.” He went on to say that in addition to the programs Valley Animal Hospital works with, there are many other low cost spay and neuter programs are available in Merced County and that many pet owners should do right by their new pet and look into them.

Valley Animal Hospital is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Currently the Valley Animal Hospital is accepting new patients, and encourages anyone with a new dog, cat, bird, reptile, or any other animal to stop by and check in to start their pet down a path to good health. Valley Animal Hospital can be contacted by calling 209.384.7387 or emailing them at VAHMerced@mail.com.

More information can be found online at VAHMerced.com.

Stop by Bob Hart Square to see Valley Animal Hospital's Animal Sculptures.

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Thank You

for your support!