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Year of the Dragon

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SBTHP’s Year of the Dragon Mural in El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park by muralist and designer, DJ Javier, celebrates Santa Barbara’s diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. 2024 marks the Year of the Dragon as part of the twelve-month cycle of the lunar calendar. An important zodiac character in many cultures, the Dragon invokes feelings of hope, strength and unity for the future.  

 

SBTHP’s Year of the Dragon Mural is on display on the Northwest wall of the historic Jimmy’s Oriental Gardens building in El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park.

  

On February 10, 2024, SBTHP welcomed over 5,000 people to our Year of the Dragon Festival at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park  to unveil SBTHP’s Year of the Dragon Mural and the opening of an immersive, multi-media art exhibition, THE DRAGON, co-curated by SBTHP Board Member Kai Tepper and emerging artist Meiya Sidney. THE DRAGON, that featured artwork by local, multigenerational AAPI artists and demonstrated the resilience of Santa Barbara’s AAPI communities, was on display inside the Presidio Chapel from February 10-21, 2024.  

 

We hope you can join our community to embrace the strength, wisdom, vitality, resilience and hope that the Year of the Dragon represents!  

 

Come check out the mural, and while you’re at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park make sure to explore SBTHP’s Nihonmachi Revisited and Jimmy’s Oriental Gardens exhibits.   

 

Questions? (805) 965-0093 or kevin@sbthp.org 

Making of the Mural

Recorded February 1-10, 2024 at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park 

Director & Editor: Casey McGarry 

Timelapse Photographer: Kevin McGarry 

Cinematographers: Eric Foote & Casey McGarry 

Music by: Yohei Shikano and My Hawaii

SBTHP recently received a grant from the state aimed at preventing hate crimes. This program, administered by the California Department of Social Services in partnership with the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, is part of ongoing efforts in California to provide direct support for communities impacted by hate incidents and support victims.

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