The Ontario Museum, Arts and Culture Department and the Downtown Ontario Improvement Association have partnered to bring new temporary public art by Southern California artists along the city’s Euclid Avenue corridor in an effort to invigorate the landscape this fall.
Unique works of art will populate “The People’s Storefront,” a pilot initiative to create opportunities for artists, help local businesses attract customers, bolster civic pride and invite people to spend more time in downtown Ontario, city officials said Wednesday.
New art will be installed at five locations on Euclid Avenue, transforming vacant storefronts into vibrant canvases for local artists that visitors can tour, photograph and enjoy as they stroll downtown. The artworks are made from vinyl and installed on front-facing windows of vacant buildings. Each window will feature art by a different creator, highlighting a variety of media and artistic styles, “reflecting the diversity of expression happening in the Southern California arts scene,” according to the city.
Selected artists contributed unique works of art that reflect subject matter ranging from Ontario history to the current local arts, culture and community.
Ontario-based photographer Michael Graves commemorates Southern California history through nostalgic photo landscapes of Route 66.
Painter Manuel LeGaspe of Fontana honors Ontario’s science and agricultural legacy through paintings of citrus groves, science exploration and aviation.
Pomona visual artist Cheyne Ellett offers a whimsical interpretation of the Art Deco era during which Granada Theatre was built, paired with imagery of the famous bandstand on the Euclid Avenue median.
Los Angeles muralist and artist Daisuke Okamoto focuses on vibrant regional flora and fauna, spotlighting the city flower, the Armstrong rose, and the swallowtail butterflies common to the area.
Paul Juno, also a painter from Los Angeles, captures the rich textures of colorful oil paint through close-up views of his palette.
“The mission of the city’s newly established public art program is to integrate art into Ontario’s daily life, strengthen opportunities for artists, and contribute to a resilient and prosperous creative economy,” Marissa Kucheck, director of the Museum, Arts and Culture Department, said in a statement. “The People’s Storefront reimagines building facades as sites for public art experiences that invite residents and visitors to see and engage with art in their everyday surroundings.”
Downtown Improvement Association Executive Director Ish Arias said in a statement, “This project is about honoring Downtown’s history while creating new opportunities for artists and businesses to collaborate in meaningful ways. Public art has the power to transform everyday spaces into experiences that inspire curiosity, encourage exploration, and foster civic pride.”
The project title is a tribute to the city’s historic “People’s Store” founded in 1888 by Hickman “Mike” Phillips.
The store became the largest mercantile establishment in Ontario and a beloved downtown destination known for supporting local businesses and supporting community connection, officials said. With that legacy guiding the way, “The People’s Storefront” reimagines commercial front facades “as spaces for community expression, creativity and cultural engagement.”
The colorful displays will be on view to the public starting in early October, according to the city. A community event is scheduled for Saturday evening, Nov. 21 that includes a walking tour with participating artists who will share insights about their creative processes. Officials encouraged community members to tour the installations during the quarterly Ontario Art Walk on Nov. 21 from 6-9 p.m.
The city established the public art program in 2022.
This year’s selected artists received a $3,500 stipend, according to the Downtown Ontario Improvement Association.
