Urban Arts Collaborative
Food Justistice Instructor / Vegan Chef
Gonzalez was born and raised in the Central Coast. Her love for food and the kitchen started at a young age. Maria graduated from culinary school in the bay area and has transitioned into becoming a plant based chef. Her focus is spreading knowledge about plant based food. Her goal is to teach others the importance of consciously taking care of oneself and mother earth as we all are one; she currently owns Calidawg Vegan.
Danny, focuses on photography, videography, apparel design, screen printing, and acrylic and watercolor painting. Her art intersects self identity, love, mindfulness, and exploring spirituality. Danny is native to the Salinas Valley, and adores being able to call Salinas her home with its stunning surroundings and loving community that raised her. Danny began working with UAC in 2016 as a teen, volunteering and eventually becoming an intern with great interest in public arts and community work. Her favorite part of working within UAC is that she is able to uplift youth, specifically future artists in Monterey County. In her free time, Danny enjoys adventuring outdoors through hiking, kayaking and camping.
Visual earth artist & Farmer / Entrepreneur
Rudy, was born and raised in the Salinas Valley; his mediums include vegetables and nature, mandalas that serves as a vehicle for people to become more aware of their health and a catalyst for conversation; Rudy leads Urban Arts Collaborative projects on environmental, food justice, wellness and self-care, and organic farming practices, to teach, share, and learn to unify families in creating a safe space for youth to dialogue around food justice and to make healthy choices. Ruyd currently owns Green Thumb Farms since 2015 & Highvibesjuice out of Monterey County.
Visual interdisciplinary & community-based artist
JC Gonzalez, uses the power of art as a portal for voice, to inspire and activate community advocacy and creativity among people. His work includes mixed media acrylics, oils, watercolors to create paintings, art installations, and contemporary murals and gallery work design. JC received his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Inquiry Interdisciplinary from the California Institute of Integral Studies ( CIIS) in San Francisco, CA. Attended San Diego State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Art with an emphasis in Studio Arts in 2008. In addition, JC has been acknowledged as a Champion of the Arts by receiving the “Luminary Award” from the Arts Council for Monterey County in 2019 and seating as a Public Arts Commissioner for the City of Salinas.