Episode #148 – Rayos Magos – Mixed Media Artist, Muralist, and Printmaker

This podcast is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Vimeo, and YouTube.

Rayos Magos grew up on the west side of San Jose, spending his childhood playing outside in a neighborhood duplex and drawing on stacks of printer paper while waiting for his parents to finish work. An introverted kid who used art as a natural way to navigate the world, he didn’t initially pursue a fine arts track. He shifted from graphic design to journalism at SF State before realizing that interviewing strangers at Muni stops was not his favorite thing to do. Eventually, he pivoted to earn degrees in psychology and to work on the front lines of community mental health.

It wasn’t until April 2021 that Magos left his nine-to-five counseling career behind to pursue art full-time. That psychological lens, however, remains foundational to his creative output. His practice has expanded past standard graphic printmaking into complex, large-scale mixed-media textiles, canvas manipulation, and embroidery. By digging through his parents’ basement archives—pulling out boxes of untouched elementary school portraits and childhood snapshots—Magos pieces together structural visual narratives that examine identity, contemporary Chicano culture, and Mesoamerican mythology.

Parallel to his studio practice, Magos continues to be out in the community, teaching and leading workshops for “Home Is Where the Art Is,” a creative workshop program built in partnership with the South Bay housing nonprofit HomeFirst. Stepping into transitional housing units to work with residents, Magos uses expressive arts to break through hesitancy and creative baggage that adults often carry. The workshops culminate in a formal gallery exhibition and art auction where 100% of the proceeds are returned directly to the residents, utilizing the creative sector to generate immediate financial autonomy and human connection for this community.

In our conversation, Magos traces his journey from childhood sketching and neighborhood graffiti to slinging prints in Mexico City and hustling as an artist, now working between Toronto, Canada, and San Jose.

The Home Is Where the Art Is program showcases framed artwork created by HomeFirst residents, with 100% of all art sales going directly back to the creators. Custom canvas work donated by Magos also helps fund future workshop cycles to sustain these creative outlets. For the 2026 exhibition, the showcase will be featured as part of the SubZERO Festival on June 5th from 5 to 8p at Open San José (38 S. Second Street, San Jose, CA 95113).

Learn more about HomeFirst on the web at homefirstscc.org and on Instagram at homefirstservices_scc

Follow Rayos Magos’ work on the web at rayos-magos.square.site and on Instagram at rayos_magos

Featured Video 2020:

Episode #147 – Jasmine Bridges – Production Manager, Content Magazine

Welcoming our new Production Manager to the team following her journey through the Southwest and back home to the South Bay.

This podcast is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Vimeo, and YouTube.

A South Bay native who grew up in South San Jose, Jasmine Bridges, has been known to dive headfirst into creative outlets. Early on, she did theater in primary school, later picked up a camera, and even competed in Latin dance.

Art was a family affair. Raised by two musicians, bonded over a passion for 80s rock, Bridges grew up as a young roadie selling t-shirts for her parents’ bands. That immersion in creative environments naturally evolved into a passion for storytelling behind the lens. At just nine years old, she began learning about lighting angles and composition by styling and staging her American Girl dolls in the yard, a practice that eventually evolved into shooting prom gigs and portraits, and landing her first wedding at 18.

Seeking a change of scenery and a “nomadic lifestyle,” Bridges left the Bay Area after her time at West Valley College to continue studying communications at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. After graduating, she worked in higher education, coordinating operations at the university’s College of Natural Sciences. There, she fell in love with student mentorship, managing interns, and supporting faculty by anticipating the small, human details that keep a large operation running smoothly.

Despite building a deeply rooted community in the desert, a persistent pull toward home eventually brought her back to San Jose. Returning required an intentional effort to reconnect, leading her out to local creative hubs like the Goodtime Bar run club, local galleries, and regional photography meetups. Now as production manager for Content, Bridges brings her background in photography, communications, operations management, and community-building to help shape the magazine.

In this conversation, Bridges traces her journey from photography to event management and explains how her return to the South Bay inspired a renewed dedication to storytelling and uplifting local artists.

Come say hello to Jasmine in person at our upcoming summer community events.

Content Magazine will be out in the community this June, including setups at City Dance and the SubZERO Festival in the SoFA District. Stop by our table, grab a copy of the latest issue, and welcome her to our creative community.

Website: jazziebphotography.mypixieset.com⁠

Instagram: @jazziebphotography

Image 1: Daniel Garcia, Portrait of Jasmine Bridges, 2026

Image 2: Jasmine Bridges, Downtown San Jose, 2025, Digital photo

Image 3: Jasmine Bridges, Graduation, 2024, Digital photo, Tempe, Arizona

Image 4: Jasmine Bridges, Grief, 2024, Digital Photo, Tempe Arizona

Image 5: Jasmine Bridges, Downtown San Jose, 2025