About TASJA

TASJA is committed to promoting and sponsoring public and visible art in San Juan Capistrano California by supporting emerging and established visual and performing artists for commissioned artworks in the public square, thereby providing civic pride for locals, educational opportunities for visitors, and economic benefits for the merchants.

An Intitiative for Our Times

This initiative is intended to glorify the historical elements in San Juan Capistrano by the establishment of an Arts program that features permanent and public Art in the Public Square.

San Juan is blessed with many cultural attributes. Mission San Juan Capistrano is the mainstay of these icons along with an enthusiastic equestrian community and a rich historic presence. We have an active Native American Community as well as a diverse population that seeks to enhance these cultural attributes. Together they attract thousands of visitors each year.

However, while the city has noteworthy sculptures and murals, we are not generally known as an art community. “Binding Contract,” the sculpture on a Del Obispo hillside, the recently commissioned "Old San Juan" on the Capistrano Plaza building and since the summer of 2023, a new mural "Mission Garden" on the Capistrano Trading Post represent the type of large scale public art that TASJA hopes to see replicated in San Juan. There are some tile murals and many fountains that attest to artistic influences, but these, while public, are not generally visible.

We are surrounded by cities with significant public art. Further, Art in the Public Square will enhance our downtown, improve the business environment, and provide a further pride of place for our residents.

Purpose

The alliance promotes a San Juan Capistrano that, while maintaining its traditional values, will dare to sign up for a new venture that promotes and commissions more Art in San Juan. It will promote a vibrant business community and will have a positive economic impact. Art in the Public Square will serve as a catalyst for new distinctive galleries, shops, and restaurants. Major artworks will allure tourists and visitors alike to our historic downtown and offer an enhanced appreciation of our rich cultural heritage.

Supporters

Ricardo Beas
Owner, Ricardo's Restaurant

Tisha Bellantuoni
Artist

Steven Behmerwohld
Art Advocate

Carol J. Beck
Art Advocate and
VP SJC Docent Society-Member

Linda Berkshire
Art Advocate

Rice Berkshire
Art Advocate

Beverly Blake
Vice President, Emeritus
Camino Real Playhouse

Ron Brazil
Art Advocate

Barbara Brient
Artist

John Caldwell
Art Advocate

Eileen Caldwell
Art Advocate

Jim Carter
Owner, American Horse Products

Robert Chavez
Art Advocate

Louisa Cooper
Artist

Toni Danchik
Artist
Director, Mission Fine Art Gallery

Dean Daniel
COO and Partner Daniel Fine Art Services

Jennifer Denman
Art Advocate

Dave Djavaharian
Art Advocate

Lori Donchak
Former Mayor of San Clemente

Deb Dorris
Art Advocate

Carmen Escamilla
Art Advocate

Mike Evans
Owner, Tree of Life Nursery
Art Advocate

Laura Freese
Former City Councilwoman

Donna Friess
Art Advocate

Cathleen Garite
Art Advocate

Barbara Gillett
Art Advocate

Arturo Guevara
Artist

Howard Hart
Mayor Pro Tem

Christa Hart
Art Advocate

John Hazeltine
Traditional Fine Arts Org.
Art Advocate

Lou Heimann
Art Advocate

Rich Heimann
Founder and President
The Alliance for San Juan Art

Randall Holbrook
Artist
Randall Holbrook Art & Design

Kathy Holman
Art Advocate
Founder of Otra Mas

Kassandra Huntley
Art Advocate

Donna Jost
Art Advocate

Lance Jost
Artist

Jennifer Keil M.A.
Founder 70Degrees
Historian and Art Advocate

Mark Kerckhoff
Artist

Frank Larkin
Art Advocate

Gayle Larkin
Artist, Art Advocate

Leslie Leone
Art Advocate

Lilia Llorens-Deschuytte
Art Advocate

Carol Lowe
Art Advocate

Maribeth McFaul
Chalk Artist

Lisa Mills
Art Advocate

Hyatt Moore
Artist

Randy Morgan
Artist

Krista Nicholds
Executive Director PreserveOrangeCounty.org

Jacque Tahuka Nunez
2019 Educator of the Year-Pakuu Native Nonprofit
2014 Cultural Ambassador for SJC in Canada's NAIG

Bill Ortega
Art Advocate
Owner Capistrano Trading Post

Priscilla Parris
The Kitchen Lady

Liz Perry

Art Advocate

Jennifer Pointer
Art Advocate

Lorie Porter
Commissioner Culture and Heritage Commission

Art Advocate

Ann Ronan
Culture and Heritage Commission

Nico Santana
Art Student

Karin Schnell

Commissioner Arts and Cultural Commission

Dana Point

Tina Ann Sciortino
Social Media Director for TASJA

Tom Scott
President Emeritus Camino Real Playhouse

Gina Marie Seriel
Exec. Director Our Fathers Table

Amanda Siebel

Senior Designer, RR&M Inc

Artist

Margarita Solazzo

Art Advocate

Joe Soto
Former Mayor & Businessman

Susan Stansbury

Equestrian Advocate

Art Advocate

Gretchen Stroscher Thomson
Art Advocate

Andrew Stroscher

Businessman

Art Advocate

Mozelle Sukut, PhD
Art Advocate

Harrison Taylor
Planning Commissioner

Melissa Thomson
Ceramist
Owner, The Ceramics Studio

Patricia Waterman
Retired Art Professor
Artist

Teress Weber
Art Advocate

Tammy Wilhelm

Chairman, Planning Committee

Art Advocate

Monica Wisberger
Artist