Arte y curación: 30 años después del terremoto de Loma Prieta

After the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 Downtown Santa Cruz felt like a ghost town. Dive into the story of 'On Sight' the group of Santa Cruz County artists who worked to rebuild downtown through art.

In 1989 a group of artists called On Sight came together to bring art and creativity back to a once vibrant downtown. Led by artist Robin Kandel and made up of artists with business and community leaders, On Sight “promoted public art projects in downtown Santa Cruz to bridge the gap between the physical vacancy left by the earthquake and the eventual reconstruction of downtown.”

On Sight projects were temporary installations. The group hoped to regenerate community excitement and interest in downtown during this period of rebuilding. Local and Bay Area based artists created site-specific work among the devastated downtown landscape. Robert Catalusci’s Lighthouse became a signifier of hope, “a beacon of light signifying a safe harbor to come back to” (Robert Catalusci, Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 12, 1991). A San Francisco Institute student at the time, Catalusci worked with UCSC photography students to create a lighthouse with projections of images of SC community members. It was made of plywood and plexiglass with slide projectors. The lighthouse projected a 3-mile radius of downtown.

On Sight left a lasting impression in downtown Santa Cruz and throughout the County post-earthquake. It kicked off a new wave of support for onsite creativity, bringing our community together. Thirty years later, Abbott Square is a celebration of this blend of art and culture.

On Sight projects were temporary installations. The group hoped to regenerate community excitement and interest in downtown during this period of rebuilding. Local and Bay Area based artists created site-specific work among the devastated downtown landscape. Robert Catalusci’s Lighthouse became a signifier of hope, “a beacon of light signifying a safe harbor to come back to” (Robert Catalusci, Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 12, 1991). A San Francisco Institute student at the time, Catalusci worked with UCSC photography students to create a lighthouse with projections of images of SC community members. It was made of plywood and plexiglass with slide projectors. The lighthouse projected a 3-mile radius of downtown.

On Sight left a lasting impression in downtown Santa Cruz and throughout the County post-earthquake. It kicked off a new wave of support for onsite creativity, bringing our community together. Thirty years later, Abbott Square is a celebration of this blend of art and culture.

Never-Before-Seen Footage

Watch the video to see the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk immediately following the 7.2 Loma Prieta Earthquake which struck the area on October 17, 1989 at 5:04pm.