Featuring:

Cura Contemporary Gallery | Artist, Itzayana Silva | Filmmaker, Lorena Cortez | Painter, Tyler Marchesano | Watercolor Painter, Uma Kelkar | Textile Artist, Cynthia Brannvall | Emerging Artist Awards 2025, Abiam Alvarez, Alice Hur, Hana Lock | Artist, COVA | Artist, Mark Engel | Pageboy Salon and DJ, Blair Carson  | Onbar Music, Troy Tuan Truong | Véra Restaurant, Katrina Parsen

I celebrate a number of things in this 73rd issue, “Profiles.” First, I celebrate the great privilege we have to award local artists recognition, furthering their emerging careers. Of course, this would not have been possible without the generous support of our partners: Santa Clara County, City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs, Gilroy Foundation, Heritage Bank, and City of Morgan Hill. And, members, like you! In addition, I am excited to have the opportunity to commission writers, designers, editors, and photographers to create this platform and highlight our creative scene. Specifically in this issue, I’m glad to work with Britt Bradley on the portraits of this year’s Content Emerging Artists. Next, we are excited to feature and partner with CURA Contemporary gallery in Morgan Hill. Their vision and space provide a tremendous focal point for the underrepresented and expanding culture scene in Morgan Hill. Lastly, we have again collected a diverse range of creatives for you to befriend. From the salon and DJ styles of Blair Carson to the watercolor work of Uma Kelkar, Muralist COVA, and painter Mark Engel, you will get a cross-section of the talent in our region. Though this issue is another full plate, I feel that the 72nd issue is merely an amuse-bouche to all the talent we have to share. For now, I hope you enjoy these profiles.

Enjoy,
Daniel Garcia
THE CULTIVATOR