The 2023 Creative Ambassadors represent a range of artistic disciplines and share a deep commitment to San Jose's cultural community. The Office of Cultural Affairs is pleased to announce the selection of the following artists as 2023 Creative Ambassadors:

Yoon Chung Han

Yoon C Han is an interaction designer, multimedia artist, and researcher. Her research includes data visualization, biometric data visualization and sonification, a new interface for musical expression, and mobile user experience design. She completed her Ph.D. at the Media Arts and Technology, UC Santa Barbara. Currently, she is an Associate Professor of Graphic Design in the Department of Design at San José State University (SJSU).

Her Creative Expression project Exploring and Supporting Bay Area Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Art through 3D Printing Technology aims to create culturally relevant 3D printed artworks made from recycled materials as solutions for cultural exchange and sustainable art. The project will raise awareness about sustainability and cultural heritage by interviewing under-served, multi-ethnic community members in San José and the region. This project will include workshops with AAPI communities with support from Chopsticks Alley. Workshops with SJSU and the San José Museum of Art are also planned. The outcome of the 3D sound objects will be exhibited at the Institute of Contemporary Art San José in September 2023.

Elba Raquel

Elba Raquel and the artist collective Together We Create (TWC) empower artists, youth, and the community through live painting. A San José native, Elba Raquel earned a Master of Fine Arts in Art Education from Santa Clara University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Academy of Art. She has been a full-time art teacher at Latino College Preparatory since 2015 and a freelance artist since 2007. Raquel produced murals at the Sacred Heart Community Center, The Sweet Soul Shop, with other prominent community organizations and businesses within San José, either solo or in collaboration with TWC.  

Raquel’s proposed Creative Expression Project is called Paint Together. The project consists of five live painting events at different locations throughout the year. Paint Together will impact the community in collaboration with three groups of people painting together at each event, including professional artists, high school students, and community attendees. School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza is a project partner.

Patron Paule

Betrand Patron Paule and the artist collective SJ Storyboard bridge our diverse Bay Area communities through digitally immersive storytelling events and illuminated public art installations throughout downtown San José. Paule is a digital graphic artist and SJSU Alumnus. His core work involves constructing immersive environments by narrating visual illustrations with communities that are projected onto architecture and buildings. Through this, the works of art  help define San José’s rich cultural identity by supporting, documenting, and showcasing the diverse storytelling of its people and creating a sense of belonging through shared experiences at supported local venues.  

Paule’s Creative Expression Larger than Life Project will bring art and poetry to life. The nighttime illuminated projection project will enable communities to enjoy the beautiful landscape, such as landmarks, and a unique experience that redefines the aesthetics of San José. This project will engage poet laureate Tshaka Campbell as the storyteller, integrating spoken word and storytelling as a vital part of the design for the project.

Suhita Shirodkar

Suhita Shirodkar is a reportage artist and educator. She leads sketch workshops and sketch walks worldwide. Her recent San José-based projects involve documenting the vintage signs around San José in sketches, and sketching portraits of people in recovery from addiction and homelessness. Shirodkar is currently a Resiliency Resident with WIRED Magazine and holds a Master’s degree in Communication Design from Pratt Institute.

Shirodkar’s Creative Expression Project Drawing to Discover envisions a series of four to six sketch walks through the year led by Suhita and open to the public, showcasing different parts of the city. Each walk is “narrated” by a San Joséan familiar with the neighborhood. The narrator will share stories, history, and memories on the walk. The participants will sketch what catches their eye, creating a visual record in their sketchbooks while gaining a deeper connection to the place. San Jose Preservation Council is a project partner.

About the Creative License Ambassadors

The 2023 Creative Ambassadors were selected through a competitive panel review process that considers applicants' artistic track records and histories of community engagement work. Emphasis was also placed on artists that are deeply rooted within San Jose's diverse cultural communities. Practicing artists of all disciplines were invited to apply.

In addition to producing a creative project involving the community, the Ambassadors' scope of work includes promoting creative expression through social media, participating in interviews, and helping to promote and participate in the WeCreate408 campaign (wecreate408.org). WeCreate408 is the Office of Cultural Affairs' month-long creativity challenge, currently scheduled for October 2023. By working with the ambassadors to tailor the messaging around the power of creative expression to their networks, the goal is for San Jose residents to elevate their own creativity and celebrate the role it plays in their everyday lives. In doing so, residents will experience the arts as a vital means of connection to themselves and to others.

Support for the 2023 Creative Ambassadors is provided in part by grants from the Arts and David and Lucille Packard Foundation.