Artists celebrate community, diversity at Chula Vista’s ArtFest

For the third consecutive year, the city of Chula Vista is proud to host ArtFest, an art festival highlighting the diverse cultural expressions of the South Bay. 

ArtFest is free, open to the public and set from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Chula Vista City Hall.

When Erwin Magbanua first started as cultural arts manager for the city of Chula Vista, he wanted to bring artists together. The city didn’t have an arts-focused festival and Magbanua wanted to address the desire for a major art event.

“In many ways the arts community here is a sleeping giant,” Magbanua said. “But I am definitely seeing a movement because more artists and arts advocates in the region are expressing the need for art and its importance.”

This year, Magbauna hopes to keep enhancing ArtFest to ensure that local artists have a place to showcase their work in their own community rather than driving out of the area to enjoy a similar event. 

“I want attendees to meet and see our growing creative community,” he said. “I want them to know that they have artists here in their own city and to support them. I hope they see that Chula Vista is beginning to grow as an arts destination.”

ArtFest brings together artists that otherwise wouldn’t have a place to showcase their work locally. Many of the artists featured in this year’s event are deeply rooted in Chula Vista, including muralist and public artist Shirish Villaseñor.

Raised in Chula Vista, Villaseñor began her public art journey in 2018 as a window artist for Starbucks during San Diego Comic-Con. Today, her murals can be seen across the region from La Bella Pizza Garden on Third Avenue to the Secret Stairs of Valencia Park.

She is also a Chicano Park muralist and member of the women’s collective Xoque: Art in Motion.

“The Chula Vista Art Festival makes me very proud of our city,” she said. “I love seeing the growth of art programs in the South Bay and the increasing emphasis on community involvement. This is my third year live painting at the festival and being out there, sharing my experiences through brushstrokes, has truly been a privilege.”

This year, live painters were asked to create work inspired by “Beautiful View,” the English translation of Chula Vista. Villaseñor’s piece features a child reading a pop-up book, their imagination unfolding into the natural beauty of Mother Miguel Mountain, radiating light and wonder.

“I love seeing children learn, absorb and explore knowledge,” she said. “Art is a powerful tool for lifting spirits during difficult times, so I often create whimsical creatures with happy faces to foster a sense of positivity.”

The festival also welcomes newer artists drawn to the local scene by its authenticity and warmth. One such artist, Navy veteran and San Diego transplant Vince Alvendia, recalls how art helped him find connection as a child.

“Art was literally how I made friends as the new kid in school with the weird accent and clothes,” he said. “The other kids caught me drawing characters at my desk during recess and the rest is history. I became addicted to the acceptance that could come with art.”

Now a father of three and an active member of the regional art community, he’s excited to contribute to the local movement.

“When people think of the SoCal art scene, they generally default to LA,” he said. “Events like the Chula Vista ArtFest help spotlight the burgeoning art scene here in San Diego. You don’t have to move to LA to make the art life work!”

He’ll be live painting a piece inspired by the Point Loma Lighthouse, a favorite childhood field trip that still stirs nostalgia.

“If someone walks away with a smile or a positive impression, that’s all I could ever ask for,” he said. “Art has been a gateway for me to connect with like-minded people and also start dialogues I might never have had otherwise.”

For both artists, the South Bay’s natural beauty and cultural richness are constant sources of inspiration. Villaseñor cites her love of local hiking trails and her Mexican heritage, often reflected through vibrant colors and symbolic imagery.

Meanwhile, San Diego’s pop culture influence, especially Comic-Con and ’80s cartoons, shapes much of Alvendia’s work. But perhaps more than anything, it’s the community that fuels their creative journeys.

“I didn’t know there was such a rich and diverse creative community in place,” he said. “It’s such a supportive group. I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Villasenor agrees, “Being surrounded by strong-minded artists has taught me resilience through shared experiences. Whether I’m live painting, creating murals or teaching, connecting with the community brings a deeper sense of accomplishment.”

ArtFest continues to stand as a powerful reminder that art doesn’t just belong in museums; it thrives in neighborhoods and in conversations of local artists committed to telling their stories.