Civic Engagement Project: Ontario

 Civic Engagement Ontario

Kee Soto

Phase 1: The Site

Ontario was founded in 1882 by the Chaffey Brothers, who named the land after their childhood town in Canada. In 1889, Ontario had a boom in citrus sales, thanks to Armstrong Garden Centers, formerly known as John S. Armstrong. The city was incorporated in 1891, with a population of 550. Today, the city has a population of about 185,000 residents, with a booming economy based on the agricultural industry.

I chose Ontario due to having a personal and familial connection to the city. Ontario has a rough history of gang violence, yet on Holt and Euclid, the city is beginning to re-identify itself as a place of community. Today, many incorporators, such as the Downtown Ontario Improvement Association (DOIA) and Holt x Palm, are keeping Ontario clean, safe, and family-friendly.

As I explored the city for the fieldwork portion, I learned that the city was hosting a project called Muralfest on October 16-17th. This was a block party featuring 16 artists from around the world creating paintings for the city.

Phase 2: Field Work

Ontario Town Square reflects the City's appreciation for the personality and charm of our community. The things that originally drew people to Ontario are still here. Ontario Town Square honors Ontario's history by providing snapshots from our past and evidence of the City's continuing commitment to our community.
Ontario Town Square is a result of the City's vision and desire to revitalize Ontario's historic downtown and transform the area into a model of sustainable living. Its unique design allows the square to host a variety of community events and activities throughout the year. Ontario Town Square serves as a focal point for residents and visitors to our downtown, the museums, public library, and City Hall. It is one of the cornerstones of the continued revitalization of the City's historic core.

 

 

ARTIST: UNKNOWN

From August 14, 1888, to September 24, 1895, the Ontario & San Antonio Heights R.R. Company's gravity Mule Cars transported citizens up and down Euclid Avenue from Holt Boulevard to 24th Street. The cars were designed by John H. Tays. After termination of services, the original cars disappeared.

In 1956, William Richardson headed a group of citizens to have a replica of the original Mule Car constructed for the City's 75th anniversary in 1957. With donated funds, "a couple of prop guys from MGM Studios in Hollywood" recreated it, working from old photos. After the 1957 Mule celebration, the Mule Care was stored in the City Yards, abandoned and forgotten.

In memory of their son Donald, who worked for the City of Ontario, Kip and Elinore Carlson and their friends, restored the Mule Car and constructed this Facility. On April 28, 1974, this Mule Car was dedicated "to the whole community."

 

 

ARTIST: Andrea Benitez
TITLE: Ontario Town Square Mural
MEDIUM: tiles
As a longtime resident of Ontario, I jumped at the opportunity to design a mural for the Ontario Town* Square project. Ontario is many things to me - a home where I spent most of my entire life, a great community with rich history and a place for a good future to look forward to.
For my approach to this project, I thought of the most important qualities Ontario offers me: life, community, and opportunity. The images I selected represent the diverse history of the city. The Chaffey brothers founded the community as an agricultural center in the late 1800s. The orange slices represent the early economy of mostly citrus. As a child, I recall passing by the Sunkist factory frequently, loving the fresh scent of delicious oranges. I chose to display a sign of Route 83, better known as Euclid Avenue, where the historic district and most official town operations take place. The R. Jack Mercer Community Bandstand serves as a central gathering spot for residents, especially during the leisure months of summer. In the middle of the design lies Ontario's official flower, the Charlotte Armstrong Rose, full of life and as vibrant as the city itself. The images on the right of the rose represent the direction Ontario is taking, developing as a new center for travel, business and entertainment opportunities. The rays of sun on the top right help reinforce the positive outlook of the city.

 

ARTIST: SEF.O1
TITLE: DOTS (TRIBUTE TO YAYOI KUSAMA), 2025
MEDIUM: Spray Paint on Masonry
A young Japanese girl stares directly at you - copper-red hair, otherworldly gaze, polka dots cascading across her skin and clothes. Behind her, a sheet of yellow legal paper covered in scattered, childlike circles.
This is Yayoi Kusama as a child - before she became the world-famous "Queen of Polka Dots." At age ten, Kusama began experiencing vivid hallucinations: dense fields of dots that would engulf her surroundings. Her mother tore up her drawings. She made more.
SEF.01 captures that origin moment - a proclamation for every dreamer who was told to stop. Keep making. Keep believing. The world will catch up.

 

ARTIST: HIPPIEONE
TITLE: ENCHANTED FOREST, 2025
MEDIUM: Spray Paint on Plywood and Corrugated
A portal to another world - an enchanted forest with massive twisted trees framing a flowing turquoise stream. Hummingbirds hover mid-flutter near blooming pink flowers, caught in that impossible freeze-frame moment between wingbeats.
In a festival full of bold graphics and urban energy, Hippieone offers something different: an invitation to step through the wall and disappear into imagination.
Louie "Hippieone" Solano is an Inland Empire native with 24+ years of experience. Not flown in from somewhere else - grown right here. Proof that world-class art lives in our own backyard.

 

ARTIST: ASHLEY HODDER
TITLE: HEAD IN THE CLOUDS, 2025
MEDIUM: Spray Paint on Masonry
A woman's face emerges from a sky of deep purples and storm clouds. Her features are painted in impossible colors - coral pinks, electric yellows, lime greens - each hue bleeding into the next like light through a prism. Thousands of white dots scatter across her skin like stars.
When Ashley Hodder was young, her head was always in the clouds, dreaming.
This mural is that memory made visible - her head literally becomes the sky.
A celebration of imagination, wonder, and the dreamers who see possibility where others see empty space. Look up. The sky isn't the limit - it's just the beginning.

 

ARTIST: ALLISON BAMCAT
TITLE: ROUTE 66 REVERIE, 2025
MEDIUM: Spray Paint on Plywood
A 100-foot love letter to growing up in Southern California. A rooster wearing a cornicello (Italian good luck charm) represents new beginnings. A black swan draped in calla lilies, wearing a band reading "IE," honors life's journey.
Hidden throughout: Joshua Trees, the San Bernardino mountains, a scorpion lollipop, eucalyptus, a fault line, a candy cane for Ontario's beloved Logan's Candies.
"My work hopes to capture the special moments of growing up in SoCal," Allison says. This mural rewards those who look closely - easter eggs for anyone who knows and loves this region.

 

ARTIST: JEKS
TITLE: CONTENT, 2025
MEDIUM: Spray Paint on Masonry
A woman rendered in photorealistic precision. Eyes closed, hand raised to her temple, lost in thought. Behind her, angular shapes spell out a single word: "CONTENT".
The word carries two meanings - and JEKS wants you to hold both. Today's artists don't just make art; they're expected to be content creators too. But look at her face. She's not performing. She's simply... content.
JEKS reminds us why art existed long before the algorithm - to create a moment of stillness in a noisy world. This mural doesn't ask for your like. It asks for your presence. Stand here. Breathe. Be content.

 

ARTIST: URBAN RUBEN
TITLE: ICONIC ONTARIO, 2025
MEDIUM: Spray Paint on Masonry
A visual love letter to Ontario's identity. Armstrong roses - Ontario's official city flower since 1962. A picnic table honoring the legendary All States Picnic that drew 100,000 people to Euclid Avenue. A classic car cruising through, celebrating the Route 66 Cruisin' Reunion. The Virgin Mary statue from Ontario's beloved Nativity scenes, displayed every holiday season since 1958.
Threading through it all: the Tower Buzzers hat, the DTO logo, Latino heritage meeting California dreams.
This is Ontario - a city built by people who came from everywhere and made something extraordinary together. Past, present, and future on a single wall.

Phase 3: Critical Analysis

Who is being represented in the public realm?

Ontario represents the people, culture, and identity, highlighting the city's diverse population, local artists, and community members who have helped shape its history. The artworks represent differences in cultural backgrounds, including but not limited to Latino heritage, Southern California traditions, and the experiences of people who have called Ontario home. It also recognizes local landmarks, traditions, and individuals who have contributed to the city's growth and identity.

What histories are centered?

The histories centered in Ontario Town Square focus on the city's founding, agricultural beginnings, cultural traditions, and community development. The artwork highlights the Chaffey brothers, the early citrus industry, historic Mule Cars, Euclid Avenue, and Route 66. It also celebrates community traditions, such as the All-States Picnic and local holiday celebrations. Together, the artwork connects Ontario's past, present, and future while highlighting the importance of preserving the city's history and cultural identity.

Who funds and decides the art?

The City of Ontario plays a major role in organizing and guiding public art projects through its vision for revitalizing downtown and celebrating the community. Funding can also come from community members and private donors, as shown by the restoration of the historic Mule Car, which received donations and support from local residents. The artists also have creative freedom to decide how they represent Ontario through their individual experiences and perspectives. Overall, the City helps guide public art projects, while artists, donors, and community members help shape the artwork and its meaning.

Phase 4: Proposal

Despite living in Ontario my whole life, I never really appreciated how the city is changing for the better. Thanks to this Civic Engagement project, I now see how the city is changing before my eyes. Finding each art piece was fun, as it took me all around the city and introduced me to different artists. I was able to gain insight into what led them to start their art experiences. This also led me to learn more about my city's history. While hearing stories from family is fun, it is more exciting to learn about the city on my own.