Kathleen Crocetti is a community artist as much as a public artist. Before any project begins, she works to understand how a community identifies itself — how people use and envision their shared public space. The community meetings she facilitates are where neighbors sometimes meet for the first time, where people are encouraged to think and dream big together. That process is inseparable from the art.
Her projects span commissioned public installations and large-scale community-fabricated works across Santa Cruz County and beyond.
I am more than a Public Artist, I am a Community Artist. To me places have meaning, vibrancy and interest because of the people who live and work there. Before I tackle any public art project I engage the public who will be using that space. I try to understand how the community identifies itself, and how they use and envision the use of their shared public space. The meetings I hold are the beginnings of creative community building as participants sometimes meet their neighbors for the very first time, and are encouraged to think and dream big together. These community meetings are just the start of a long journey we take together. The journey fosters both relationships and creativity, which is why I do what I do.
Usually, my work as a Community Artist leads to great adventures and forays into Public Art. But not always; in fact 187 days of the year it means I am in a classroom helping young people connect with their creative selves. I help them see the value in embracing their creative selves so that no matter what path they choose to follow in their lives they can engage creativity to enhance their pursuits. And if that were not enough, once a year for the past eight years I have found a location for us to make public art within walking distance of our school.
