SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The “Year of the Dragon” mural in downtown Santa Barbara celebrates the area’s Asian history and culture.
The Santa Barbara Foundation for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) commissioned local artist DJ Javier to paint the mural in celebration of the Lunar New Year. SBTHP board member Kay Tepper came up with the idea a year ago and was able to secure funding through the state's Stop Hate Program.
The mural was painted on the side of the former Jimmy's Oriental Gardens, a family-owned Chinese restaurant that opened in 1947. The Chung family, who lived in the tenement next door, owned the business for more than 60 years. The building is now home to Lovejoy's Pickle Room.
East Jimmy Park was an important part of the diverse community of people who lived and worked in the Presidio neighborhood, Kiper said. Beginning in the 1860s, the block of Canon Perdido Street between State Street and Anacapa Street served as the cultural and residential center of the Chinese community.
Javier honors this rich history by incorporating the Chinese symbol for “double happiness” into the mural. This symbol was used to hang in Jimmy's Oriental Garden and the same banner now hangs in the Pickle Room. Javier grew up in Santa Barbara and said he feels more connected to his community after painting the mural.
“One hundred years ago, there was an Asian American community residing here in this place, and to come back and paint a mural celebrating the Year of the Dragon, being Asian American and being from Santa Barbara, it was like the most amazing full circle moment,” Javier said.
The mural was displayed during a Lunar New Year celebration in the neighborhood on February 10. The celebration included live cultural performances, dragon-themed drinks and food, and a screen-printing station to wear Javier's dragon artwork at home.
The celebration also witnessed the opening of the “Dragon” art exhibition, which includes artwork by local Asian American and Pacific Islander artists. The free exhibit is located across the street from the mural in the historic Presidio Church, and is open through Wednesday, February 21.
