Wisper. Photograph by Buggsy Malone.
Wisper prepping to paint Freedom. Photograph by Buggsy Malone.
In partnership with Local Color, we’ve invited muralist Tomas ‘Wisper’ Talamantes into the museum for a dynamic look into his creative process. Wisper will create an original mural at the museum, exploring the untold stories, people, events, and variety of cultures that have contributed to Los Gatos and its surrounding areas. During three live sessions, visitors will enjoy the special opportunity to see Wisper in action and learn about his creative process and philosophy.
Alongside the developing mural, visitors can view photographs – documented by artist and photographer Buggsy Malone – of the artist’s previous work, Freedom, a mural created for the shared lobby space of community partners Somos Mayfair, Excite Credit Union, and the Latino Business Foundation, and depicting themes of economic mobility, diversity, hope, and inclusion located in East San Jose.
Additionally, the mural creation process will be recorded by filmmaker, Jezrael Gandara, and a documentary video, including interviews with the artist, will be installed in the gallery after the completion of the mural.
Explore the compelling story of how Wisper became an artist and mentor after a period of incarceration, paired with Buggsy’s transition from a military veteran to a photographer, cultural community leader, and entrepreneur. For NUMU and both artists, being able to share their stories through this platform is a new and exciting opportunity.
Photograph by Buggsy Malone.
ABOUT WISPER
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Tomas ‘Wisper’ Talamantes began drawing at age 10, inspired by his mother's creativity, as well as comic book art. In his teens he was heavily influenced by the hip-hop movement and began to do graffiti, which led to him to create his first murals.
In collaboration with a childhood friend and two educators in San Jose, the group established Together We Create, an organization that creates pieces of art, live on location, at various events. Wisper then developed his own curriculum called Teach Peace, which teaches people of all ages how to create from a place of peace, free of fear. “If one can learn how to operate from a place of peace in creating art then all one needs to do is transfer this learning into other areas of one's life.” The goal of Wisper and Together We Create is to impact others through the creation of art and to beautify the community.
ABOUT BUGGSY
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Through art and photography, Buggsy Malone learns ways to find balance and rise above the overexposure to violent conditions personally experienced while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Photography has been his main artistic focus for 10+ years, with the past 5+ years being geared around the community and culture of San Jose and the surrounding Bay Area.
ABOUT LOCAL COLOR
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Local Color is a woman-powered 501.c.3 nonprofit with the mission to build equitable pathways for artists to thrive. We meet our mission through the commission and facilitation of public and private art, the establishment of affordable creative workspaces, the management of artist-led workshops studios, and providing fiscal sponsorship for independent artists, cultural workers, and community organizers.
Major support for Paint the Town: A Mural in Action is provided by Andy & Julie Micallef.
