Graffiti artist mixes art and technology

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Sacramento, CA

Anthony Padilla, graffiti artist, has emerged as an artist commissioned by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission.

His new instrumental mural titled "Solar Power Plant" commissioned by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (SMAC), Art in Public Places Program, with funding from the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento was introduced recently at the Thomas P. Raley Branch of the Boys & Girls Club located on the corner of 12th and G Streets.

His “Seasons of Sacramento” aerosol mural commissioned in 2005 for Historic City Hall’s 2nd floor Hearing Room continues to gather community praise.

"Solar Power Plant" is a giant-sized, one-ton piece of art, that is also a functioning solar power plant, at home at the Boys and Girls Club on G St. It can be seen while walking on F St approaching 16th St. at the northeast corner of the club's playground.

Padilla says he comes from a graffiti  art background doing murals and spray painting.

"Here I'm mixing art and technology as something new and different," he said. "I had a vision of a blue lady reaching towards the sky with a power cord aiming at the sun."

If you look at the three-prong grounding plug you'll notice it is upside down so it looks happy.

"So her plug is trying to plug all the way into the sun and that powers the whole world", he explained.

It took him one year of designing and one year of fabricating it. He had to hire professionals to install it.

When the sun goes down a light comes on below the solar panel 'leaves'.

This technology could be used anywhere, with or without the art piece. It is practical in that it can recharge technology tools anywhere. Cloudy days do not mess it up.

Padilla said California could use visionaries to push us into the future.