Community Comes Together to Celebrate Hemet’s New Public Mural

Despite temperatures climbing above 106 degrees, community members gathered on July 16 to celebrate the City of Hemet’s newest public mural, located on an exterior wall of Oryz Family Restaurant at the northeast corner of Florida Avenue and Carmalita Street.

The mural was painted throughout May and June and represents an important milestone for public art in Hemet. It is the first community-led artwork developed through the City’s Art in Public Spaces program, part of the broader Hemet Rises redevelopment strategy.

Across the street from the mural, pop-up activities lined the wall of the Historic Hemet Theatre and created a lively, festival-like atmosphere for visitors of all ages. The Hemet Valley Art Association was proud to participate by providing a hands-on coloring activity for children, teens, and adults.

HVAA member Alison Wieman created bookmarks featuring artwork that participants could personalize with colored pencils and markers. Alison was joined by fellow HVAA members Opal Larkin, Anthony Lujan, Art Majerus, and Stephen Packard, who helped supervise the activity and encouraged visitors to explore their creativity.

The mural project was made possible through a collaboration involving the City of Hemet, Healthy Valley Foundation, Altura Credit Union, Riverside Arts Council, and the Hemet Valley Art Association, along with additional community organizations and supporters.

Lead muralist Rosy Cortez created the design and guided a team of 11 emerging artists selected from more than 40 local applicants. HVAA was especially proud to see members Zallah Hobson and Sidonia Carrillo included among the participating artists.

The mural was shaped through extensive community participation. More than 40 residents shared their ideas and helped develop the mural’s vision, while 28 residents participated in a Community Paint Day. The project also included more than 58 hours of planning and meetings and approximately 261 hours of artistic work contributed by the emerging artists.

Partners included the City of Hemet, Healthy Valley Foundation, Altura Credit Union, Riverside Arts Council, Hemet Unified School District, Alta Nursery, Elite Custom Contractors, the City of Hemet’s Arts and Culture Standing Committee, and the Hemet Valley Art Association.

The celebration was about much more than the completion of a painted wall. Neighbors gathered, emerging artists were recognized, community partners connected, and stories were shared. Together, the artists and residents transformed a public space into a symbol of belonging, creativity, and possibility.

Healthy communities are shaped not only through services and infrastructure, but also through the places where people gather, create, and connect. This mural is a powerful example of what can happen when organizations, artists, residents, and local leaders work toward a shared vision.

The Hemet Valley Art Association is honored to have supported this project and proud of the members who contributed their time, talent, and creativity. We look forward to seeing more public art projects that celebrate the people, history, and spirit of the Valley.

Here’s to the first of many community murals in Hemet.