Grow Florin Bridge Housing
I was commissioned by Enki Development to design a mural based on the history of Florin immigrant farmers, particularly around the agricultural developments of growing Tokay grapes and various strawberry species. These murals are installed on-site on the sides of shipping containers of the bridge housing property and frame key common areas for residents such as a dog park lawn and main hub area. We also discussed how the property would need branding that would reference the city of Florin, Japanese American farmer history, as well as a focus on creating a sustainable bridge housing model.
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This project was developed by Enki Development and made possible through a grant from the California Department of Health Care Services, and is currently being operated with 24/7 onsite support services by Hope Cooperative.
Research and Mural Design
Florin was known as the 'strawberry capital', once the center of both strawberry and Flame Tokay grape production in Northern California.
During the 1940's Japanese American farmers became the pillar of the berry and fruit production during that time, improving methods from previous Italian and Chinese immigrant farmers, the former who brought over the Tokay grapes decades prior. The inter-cropping method of growing the strawberry plants between the grape vines, started by the Chinese farmers and continued by the growing Japanese farming community at the time, allowed Florin to ship massive amounts of both fruits through the train station.
To highlight the deep history of Japanese American farmers and their connection to Florin's agricultural production and contributions during that time, I focused on highlighting the grapes and strawberry plants. The background landscape includes orange fields and blue lines, representing the Cosumnes River and other rivers that surround Florin. The patterns on the hills and the background are based off of sashiko embroidery patterns – a Japanese stitching and embroidery technique that is used to mend and embellish worn clothing, traditionally done with white thread and indigo-dyed fabric.
Grow Florin Branding and Signage
To acknowledge Florin's agricultural roots and the importance of the railroad station that helped take produce to market, the name Grow Florin was chosen. The combination of deep purple referencing the beni imo (the Okinawan purple sweet potato) as well as being a color of dignity, and a vibrant green to showcase vitality and new growth.
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The color palette from both the branding and mural design was purposefully utilized for the door colors on each building. Each quadrant of the housing units, common area and facilities have a designated color, which is reflected on the wayfinding map to help increase accessibility for Grow Florin's residents and to echo the vibrancy and liveliness from the on-site murals.
References and Resources
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“Lost Kinjo: As Florin’s Japantown fades, traditions survive” by David Hosley, https://asamnews.com/2024/07/20/obon-festival-traditions-florin-sacramento-county-history/
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Images of America: Japanese Americans of Florin by Michelle Trujillo
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Changing Dreams and Treasured Memories: A Story of Japanese Americans in the Sacramento Region by Wayne Maeda
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East to America: A History of the Japanese in the United States by Robert A. Wilson and Bill Hosokawa
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Densho, https://densho.org/
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Photographs from CSU Sacramento Japanese American Archival Collection