In association with OMA’s Sidewalk Activism exhibition, local artist Katie Ruiz led a large-scale community project to yarn-bomb the museum’s façade with a pride flag made of colorful threads and glorious yarn pom-poms in celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month in June.

Community members from all over the county, including the North County LGBTQ Resource Center and the Boys and Girls Clubs of North County, rallied together to create pom-poms in abundance at home to help make this installation possible.

“Craft and textile art have traditionally been seen as women’s work or handicraft as opposed to fine art. In a similar way, the LBGTQIA+ community has been seen as less valuable in society. In recent days, we have witnessed a resurgence of racism, intolerance, and injustice, and once again we are seeing that some people are less valued than others. This moment is a new opportunity to show that every member of humanity has equal value, just like artwork made with yarn or any other material can be valued as fine art. All people are a work of fine art. Love wins!”

—Katie Ruiz

OMA is proud to share this message of positive social change through the transformative power of art.

Be a part of the conversation on social media: #SidewalkActivismShow #ArtAtOMA #PrideMonth #PrideMonth2020 #Pride #EqualityMatters #PomPomBomb #YarnBomb #PomPoms #Community #CommunityProject #Oceanside #OceansideCommunity