We have world-renowned food and fine wine, jaw-dropping beauty and now there is also compelling STREET ART IN NAPA! Rail Arts District (RAD) introduces a free outdoor art museum that will change the way you view art. Ugly warehouses have become an open-air art gallery and street art is elevated to fine art.
The Napa Valley Wine Train has partnered with Napa Valley Vine Trail, and the local arts community, to create the Rail Arts District Napa Valley featuring bold public artwork. It is a celebration of creative energy showcasing our creative community.
“RAD Napa is inspired by art districts around the world,” reported Vine Trail founder Chuck McMinn, who volunteers his time. There are murals, sculptures, landscaping and there will be a future mosaic to commemorate the Napa Valley earthquake and the recent fires.
The purpose is to inspire and invite discussion. This public art provides a really cool backdrop for your selfie and advertising opportunities for sponsors, as well.
Where’s the Art?
The street art runs for two miles through the old industrial section of downtown Napa, along the Wine Train tracks and the Vine Trail, from Soscol Avenue to Redwood Road. Begin at the McKinstry Street Wine Train Station at the beginning of the Wine Train route.
How It All Began . . .
RAD Napa Valley is the result of an incredible 2016 vision from a group of volunteer business people, artists, designers, and community members sponsored by the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition. To date, the group has commissioned four murals and 12 utility box art wraps along the trail. All will be featured in Arts in April this year.
Murals
Three murals were commissioned from internationally-renowned artists and installed on the outside walls of businesses along the route. They are visible from the Wine Train or while biking and walking on the Vine Trail.
Future murals will be located along the Vine Trail at PJ Partners building at 1785 Tanen Street and 1739 Action Avenue warehouses this spring.
Utility Box Wraps
Twelve utility box art wraps were commissioned and placed along the Vine Trail at twelve Napa intersections near the railroad tracks. Artists were selected based upon their past work and paid $500 to create a design in a variety of media, including photography, painting, collage and digital art.
Future Community Quake Mosaic
Beauty from Chaos
The Community Quake Mosaic will be created from broken objects that were collected and donated by our community after the 2014 earthquake and recent Northern California fires, reports Napa artist, Kristina Young who will create the mosaic. Additional ceramic tiles have been donated by Heath Ceramics.
“Once built, the mosaic will provide an opportunity for healing and reflection. It will also reflect our relationship with the valley and the natural forces that continue to shape it,” Young added. Anyone interested in helping with the project is encouraged to contact Young at kly@napaquakemosaic.com.
The materials will be applied to the outside of a rail car donated by the Napa Valley Wine Train and placed at the Southern Gateway of RAD Napa. Partners include the Napa Valley Wine Train, Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition, Mentis, Nimbus Arts, Gretchen Stranzl-McCaan Landscape Architects, Napa County and Arts Council Napa Valley.
Invitation for Adventure
Just wander the RAD Vine Trail and happy happenstance will be your guide! For more information contact Shelly Willis at curator@radnapa.org or 916-996-0793, or visit RADNapa.org