Butte County Art On Wheels
Butte County Art on Wheels is a mobile art studio that aligns displaced artists from the Campfire with positive community oriented projects for the betterment of physical, emotional, and mental health. Partnering with schools, companies, and community members!
Jessie Mercer is a local visual artist from Paradise. The 2018 Camp Fire claimed her art studio as well as her parents home. She has always wanted to help people and believes in the power of community. She's found her visual voice after many years of working in the field of foster care, youth counseling and special education, creating set design in collaboration with artists with developmental disabilities. Through her community passions, she received funding from the North Valley Community Foundation, with 501c3 affiliation with Chico Art Center and was loaned a utility vehicle from Phoenix Solar to produce her concept, Butte County Art on Wheels.
Jessie Mercer has been partnering with displaced artists and students to paint 11 murals at schools effected by the Camp Fire. Mercer also worked with the new Boys & Girls Club facility to create a mural with the children. She has also stationed Art on Wheels at local public events like Pioneer Day to offer art activities to one and all. Mercer is currently providing "You Matter" art kits for kids that attend Ridge Schools while they are home during the COVID-19 pandemic and creating a "Butte County Art On Wheels" YouTube channel for families to help maintain a sense of community.
Jessie Mercer can be emailed at jessiemercer15(at)gmail.com.
COVID-19 SPECIAL COVERAGE: Resources for parents staying home with kids
March 17, 2020
Jessie Mercer of Butte County Art on Wheels has used her grant for folks affected by the Camp Fire to prepare 1000 "You Matter" art supply kits for kids. Pick one up at the following schools. Way to go Jessie! Thank you! Check her out on minute 11:10 in the NSPR feature on resources for parents.
Ridgview High, Paradise Ridge Elementary, Pineridge Elementary, Cedarwood Elementary, Achieve Charter School, Paradise Charter Middle School
Follow Butte County Art On Wheels on Facebook
Action News Now featured Jessie Mercer and Butte County Art on Wheels as an independent community arts project that Butte County Office of Education has recognized as a proven value and used as a model, along with Sonoma County's Arts Residencies for Schools to apply for grants to implement a similar program for Paradise K-12 Schools.
PRESS
Featured Artist: Jessie Mercer brings Camp Fire community together through art, The Orion, May 10, 2019
Awarded "2019 Champion of the Arts" by Chico Arts & Culture, April 18, 2019
After Camp Fire, An Artist Helps Students In Hard-Hit Town Cope Through Color, Here & Now, WBUR April 3, 2019
Artist Jessie Mercer Paints Murals With Kids Who Are Camp Fire Survivors, NSPR MAR 21, 2019
#UnlockPossibilities – Paradise Arts Creates Town Memorial Out Of Keys, WNIN Dec 27, 2018
Paradise Artists Creates Piece for Town Made of Keys, Action News Dec 13, 2018
Paradise artist to make Phoenix from keys of Camp Fire victims, Dec 9, 2018
