>>> THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD SEE PLASTIC BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE SEEN IN A STORE ANYMORE WAS BY GOING TO MUSEUMS.

>> Reporter: THERE IS ALSO A GRAVITY DEFYING SCULPTURE MADE OF OLD FOLDING CHAIRS MADE BY JAMIE FRANKS, PORTRAITS BY CHRISTOPHER LLOYD TUCKER, AND ALVARO ALVAREZ'S IMPERFECT BOUNDARIES IS A SERIES OF SEVEN FRAMED PIECES COME A TUCKED AWAY IN THE AIRPORTS LOUNGE.

SHAPES ARE FORMED FROM A CROWDED TANGLE OF PAINTED BLACK INCLINES AND SYMBOLS.

THE EDGES CREATED BY THE MANY LINES REPRESENT HUMAN AND COMMUNITY BORDERS.

BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES ARE BIG SEAM FOR ALVAREZ.

HE SAYS IT MEANS MORE THAT HIS WORK IS EXPERIENCED BY VIEWERS OUTSIDE OF TRADITIONAL ART BOUNDARIES.

>> WHEN I DESCRIBE IMPERFECT BOUNDARIES, I USE OUR BORDERS AS A METAPHOR, BUT TO HAVE AN AIRPORT SETTING AS A GALLERY THAT IS A TRANSIENT SPACE THAT FILTERS, A PASSAGEWAY FOR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE, AND AIRPORT IS ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, A VERY LITERAL GATE TO THE PLANE IS A THRESHOLD ACROSS.

>> Reporter: UNNECESSARY DEPARTURE WILL BE ON VIEW THROUGHOUT TERMINAL TWO UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR THOMAS SO HARRIED HOLIDAY TRAVELERS STILL HAVE TIME TO TAKE IT IN, AN UNEXPECTED PIECE OF ART MAY GRAB THEIR ATTENTION AS THEY DASHED TO THEIR GATES.

KPBS NEWS.

LT LIVE WELL CENTERS, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT OPENED THIS YEAR.

IN CHOICE VIEW, LARA MCCAFFREY SHOWS US SOME OF THE ART THAT MAKES THE NEW FACILITY MORE THAN A BUILDING.

THE ART INSTALLATION LIGHT OF PASSAGE HOVERS UNDER A SKYLIGHT AT THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO.

SOUTHEASTERN LIVE WELL CENTER HAND CUT PIECES OF FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF GLASS ARE ATTACHED TO STAINLESS STEEL WIRES REPRESENTING THE NEARBY CHOICE CREEK.

IT'S A SUNNY DAY, SO THE GLASS CREATES SHADOW PLAY ON THE WALL AND FLOOR BELOW SPLASHES OF BLUE, PURPLE AND YELLOW.

I CAME UP WITH SORT OF A GENERAL CONCEPT THAT WENT OUT TO THE PUBLIC TO THE COMMUNITY FOR FEEDBACK.

UM DURING THAT PERIOD, THEY EXPRESSED.

UM THEIR DESIRE TO SEE A LOT OF COLORS AND, UM, SOMETHING THAT GIVES HOPE AND OPTIMISM.

CALVARY FUKUYAMA CREATED THE ART I WANTED TO USE UM, MATERIALS THAT REALLY SORT OF SHINES AND REFLECTIVE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL SUNLIGHT.

LIGHT OF PASSAGE IS ONE OF MANY PIECES OF PUBLIC ART AT THE NEW SOUTH EASTERN LIVE WELL CENTER.

ORGANIZERS OF THE CENTRE'S ART PROGRAMS SAY THE PIECES SELECTED WERE BASED ON COMMUNITY MEMBER FEEDBACK AND ATTEMPT TO CREATE A BUILDING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

TUBMAN CHAVEZ CENTER USED TO BE WHERE THE LIVE WELL CENTER STANDS NOW.

IN OCTOBER.

2021 CONSTRUCTION FOR THE 65,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY BEGAN.

THE GOAL WAS TO COMBINE SEVERAL RESOURCE BUILDINGS INTO ONE LIVE WELL.

CENTERS ARE MEANT TO PROVIDE SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TO SAN DIEGANS.

THEY'RE DESIGNED TO BE ONE STOP SHOPS AIMING TO PREVENT MANY VISITS TO DIFFERENT BUILDINGS FOR ACCESS TO VARIOUS SERVICES.

WHEN IT CAME TO INSTALLING ART IN THE BUILDING.

THE COUNTY GATHERED COMMUNITY INPUT AND THEN USE THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE TO MAKE SELECTIONS.

BARBARA JIMENEZ, COMMUNITY OPERATIONS OFFICER AT THE COUNTY SAID IT WASN'T HARD TO GET FEEDBACK.

WHAT WE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT , UM THAT THIS IS A DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND THAT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY REALLY TO REFLECT THE DIVERSITY THROUGH ART.

WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

100 ARTISTS SUBMITTED PROPOSALS TO CALL FOR ART.

IN SPRING, 2022 ART WAS PURCHASED FROM 33 ARTISTS WITH 14 COMMISSION TO CREATE PIECES, ESPECIALLY FOR THE BUILDING.

THERE'S INSTALLATIONS, STATUES, PAINTINGS AND MEDITATION GARDEN AND MORE.

ONE OF THE COMMUNITY REQUESTS.

DIVERSITY IS SEEN IN FRANCISCO EMI'S PIECE, KRYSTLE MEANING MELTING POT IN SPANISH.

IT CONSISTS OF PANELS WITH CERAMICS AND TEXTILES.

IT'S LOCATED IN THE STAIRWELL UNDER FUKUYAMA'S INSTALLATION, VISITORS SEE A NEW PANEL EVERY FEW STEPS TAKEN EM A SAYS THE TEXTILES ARE FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES IN SAN DIEGO.

THIS WORK IS VERY NON PERSONNEL, MEANING THAT I DID VERY LITTLE TREATMENT TO THE TEXTILES AND PRETTY MUCH RESPECTING THE REGIONAL DESIGN.

AND SO EACH OF THE FLOWERS CELEBRATES OUR COMMUNITY HERE.

CONSULTANT LEIA GOODWIN WANTED THE BUILDING TO FEEL LIKE A HEALING PLACE.

EVIDENCE BASED DESIGN PRINCIPLES THAT I USE FOR MY DECADES OF PUTTING OUT IN HOSPITALS.

AND CREATING HEALING ENVIRONMENTS THAT THAT AT PLAY HERE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER, PEOPLE STILL MAY NOT BE HAVING THEIR BEST DAY AND WE ARE, YOU KNOW, SO AS A PUBLIC ART CONSULTANT.

WE LOOKED AT WAYS TO FINE TOUCH POINTS.

TO CREATE BEAUTY.

YAMA HOPES THAT VISITORS FIND THAT BEAUTY FROM HER WORKS LIGHT AND COLORS, HOPING THAT IF SOME PEOPLE ARE VISIT HERE MORE THAN ONCE, THEN THEY SEE THE CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE DAY THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

UM, NOTICE LITTLE THINGS THAT CHANGES AROUND US MCCAFFREY KPBS NEWS.

MANY OF OUR REPORTERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE KPBS PUBLIC ART SERIES.

YOU CAN FIND MORE AT KPBS .ORG/ PUBLIC ART.

MUCH OF OUR PUBLIC ART IS INSPIRED BY THE CULTURES IN OUR CROSS BORDER REGION AND MANY TIMES THAT INCLUDES POLITICS AND SHARED STRUGGLES.

A NEW MURAL IN CHICANO PARK TOUCHES ON THOSE THEMES.

KATIE HYSON LOOKS AT HOW PEOPLE ARE HONORING THE POLITICAL POWER OF FARM WORKERS.

CARS WHIZZED BY ON THE FREEWAY ABOVE.

MARIO CHACON, THE LEAD ARTIST OF THE ALCOR TITO MURAL, GIVES A SNEAK PEEK TO A CURIOUS FAMILY PASSED THE CONSEQUENCE, THE STRUGGLE AND THEN AT THE BOTTOMS OF VICTORY.

DIVIDING THE MURAL INTO IS AN ARCHED SPINAL COLUMN THAT MIRRORS THE BACKS OF THE FARM WORKERS TOILING IN THE FIELDS ABOVE THE FAR RIGHT IS MORE WHEN HE WAS YOUNG AS A LAWYER WITH THE CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE MAURICE MO JOURDAIN LED THE FIGHT AGAINST AL COURT.

ITO THE SHORT HANDLED HO USED BY FARM WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA.

THE WORKERS CALLED IT EL BRAZO DEL DIABLO, THE DEVIL'S ARM.

IT'S EIGHT INCH HANDLE, FORCED THEM TO STOOP OVER ALL DAY.

JORDAN SAYS CESAR CHAVEZ TOLD HIM HE SHOULD FIGHT AGAINST ELKHART ITO, BUT IT WAS A CHANCE MEETING AND A SALINAS VALLEY POOL HALL IN 1970 THAT CONVINCED HIM TO FARM WAS JUST HAD A BAD BACK AND I ASKED HIM WHAT HAPPENED AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT'S JUST FROM USING THE CAR.

TITO FARMWORKER, WENT TO HIS TRUCK AND BROUGHT BACK THE COURT.

ITO JORDAN AGREED AT SEEMED BAD, BUT THE WORKER CHALLENGED HIM TO LEARN TO KNOW HOW BAD IT IS.

YOU HAVE TO GO USE IT.

AND SO AFTER SOME ENCOURAGEMENT, PRESSURE, I WENT TO THE FIELD TO USE THE FOOT TITO AND I REMEMBER DRIVING DOWN THE VALLEY AT DON AND SPENDING THE DAY BENT OVER, HOEING, AND I REALIZED THAT DAY WAS TORTURE, AND WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO GET RID OF IT.

>> Reporter: GEORGINE WENT TO THE LAW LIBRARY AND FOUND NO LAWS AROUND THE COURT TITO.

>> I LEARNED THAT FROM DOCTORS IT WAS WORTH THAN JUST THE PAIN.

BACKS WERE BEING DESTROYED.

>> Reporter: TOGETHER WITH COCOUNSEL MARTY CLICKY FILED A LAWSUIT.

DOCTORS TESTIFIED THAT FARMWORKERS WERE RETIRING YOUNG WITH DESTROYED BACKS, OFTEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND IN WHEELCHAIRS.

STOOPING OVER DEGENERATED THE DISCS IN THEIR SPINE UNTIL THEY RUPTURED.

>> WHAT I LEARNED IN ALL OF IT IS THAT THE FARMWORKERS WERE A TOOL.

IF THE FARMWORKER BECAME DISABLED BECAUSE OF BACK INJURY , THEY JUST WENT TO MEXICO AND GOT ANOTHER ONE TO TAKE THEIR PLACE.

>> Reporter: GROWERS CLAIMED THE SHORT HANDLE WAS NEEDED FOR EFFICIENCY, BUT WHEN GEORGINE AND GLICK SURVEYED GROWERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY FOUND THE SAME WORK WAS BEING DONE WITH A LONG HANDLED HOE EVERYWHERE BUT ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA.

GEORGINE HAS ANOTHER THEORY.

[ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] WAS ABOUT CONTROL.

>> YOU KNOW THE SLAVE OWNERS HAD WHIPS OR GUNS THEY USED TO KEEP WORKERS WORKING, AND HERE THEY HAVE A, [ SPEAKING IN A NON- ENGLISH LANGUAGE ].

>> Reporter: THE [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] AND PEOPLE BENT LOW AT IT TIME AND CESAR CHAVEZ AND OTHERS WERE TRYING TO UNIONIZE THEM TO STAND UP AND IT MADE THEM EASIER TO SUPERVISE.

>> YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPERVISOR, ONE FOREMAN, SUPERVISOR, AND 50 OR 60 WORKERS WHEN YOU KNEW WHO WAS RESTING WHERE THOSE WHO WERE STANDING UP.

>> Reporter: FARMWORKERS ORGANIZED ACROSS THE STATE INCLUDING AT CHICANO PARK.

THEY RISKED THEIR LIVELIHOODS TO TESTIFY DURING THE YEARS LONG LEGAL BATTLE.

THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA BANNED THE SHORT HANDLED HOE IN 1975.

REMEMBERING THE WIN MOVES GEORGINE, BUT HE PUTS IT IN PERSPECTIVE.

>> WE GOT RID OF THE [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ], BUT THAT IS JUST ONE LITTLE PART OF A FARMWORKERS LIFE.

>> Reporter: NEVER TIRED, HE STILL SPEAKS OF ALL THE WORK LEFT TO DO.

FARMWORKERS IN CALIFORNIA ARE STILL DYING IN THE FIELD OF HEAT EXHAUSTION, A PREVENTABLE ILLNESS.

>> WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS GET BEYOND BELIEF THAT FARMERS ARE TOOLS AND IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT IT'S HARMFUL.

>> Reporter: AT THE MURAL, GEORGINE POSES WITH THE FAMILY.

INSTEAD OF SAYING "CHEESE, WAS GOOD THE CHILDREN SAY [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] , YES I CAN BE DONE.

>> MY HERO.

>> Reporter: THEY WILL SPEAK AT A PUBLIC UNVEILING OF THE MURAL ON SUNDAY, JUNE 25.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> JAVIER SALAZAR ROJAS IS BETTER KNOWN IN TIJUANA AS THE DEPORTED ARTIST.

KPBS BORDER REPORTER GUSTAVO SOLIS SHOWS US HOW HE USES ART TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE PLIGHT OF DEPORTEES.

FOUR MAC ONE OF JAVIER SALAZAR'S FAVORITE PAINTING IS OF A LITTLE BOY IN THE DESERT HIDING FROM THE BORDER PATROL.

THE BOY CROUCHES BEHIND A BUSH.

HE IS CARRYING A LIGHT BLUE BACKPACK THAT IS ALMOST AS BIG AS HE IS.

IT IS ACTUALLY A SELF-PORTRAIT WHEN HE WENT ON A FAMILY TRIP TO TAWANA AT SEVEN YEARS OLD.

>> I TRIED TO, MY MOM STOPPED ME.

>> THE REST OF HIS FAMILY WAS GOING TO DRIVE THROUGH THE PORT OF ENTRY BUT SALAZAR WOULD HAVE TO SNEAK BACK ACROSS THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.

>> SHE'S LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU CAN'T COME HOME WITH US, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PAPERS.

>> Reporter: THAT IS WHEN SALAZAR FOUND OUT HE WAS UNDOCUMENTED.

HE HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO OAKLAND IS A 3-MONTH-OLD CHILD AND LIVED THERE EVER SINCE.

WHILE HIS FAMILY DROVE ACROSS THE BORDER, HE HAD TO HIKE THROUGH A RURAL PART OF SAN DIEGO PARTY.

>> I REMEMBER HIDING IN THE BUSHES, AND THAT IS WHEN BORDER PATROL FOUND ME, AND AT 11 YEARS OLD, I GOT TAKEN TO AN IMMIGRATION CENTER AND GOT DEPORTED.

>> Reporter: HE EVENTUALLY MADE IT BACK TO OAKLAND AND LIVED THERE UNTIL HIS LATE 20s, WHEN HE STOLE $300 FROM A GAS STATION, GOT CAUGHT, AND WAS SENT TO PRISON.

IT WAS IMPRISONED WHERE SALAZAR TAUGHT HIMSELF TO DRAW.

HE ALSO SERVED AS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER BETWEEN 2011 AND 2014.

>> I REST MY LIFE FOR THREE YEARS WORKING FOR ONE DOLLAR PER HOUR FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND MY LAST 30 DAYS THEY CAME AND TOLD ME I WAS BEING DEPORTED.

>> Reporter: HE WAS DEPORTED RIGHT AFTER FINISHING HIS PRISON SENTENCE.

SALAZAR IS NOW 47 AND LIVES IN TIJUANA.

HE IS AN ESTABLISHED ARTIST.

AND THE PROUD PARENT OF FIVE ADOPTED DOGS AND A CAT.

>> LET ME GET YOU A BLANKET.

HER BACK KNOWN LOCALLY AS THE DEPORTED ARTIST, SALAZAR'S PAINTINGS DEPICT MIGRATION AND BORDER CULTURE.

HE USES ART AS A WAY TO TELL HIS OWN STORIES AND CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE SEE DEPORTEES.

>> NOBODY SPEAKS UP.

YOU KNOW, NOBODY IS GOING TO HEAR OUR STORY.

SOMEBODY ELSE I TELL OUR NARRATIVE, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO TELL IT THROUGH THEIR EYES AND THEIR AGENDA.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS DEPORTEES ARE DEPICTED AS CRIMINALS.

THEORIES THEY ARE SENT BACK TO THEIR HOME, BUT IN REALITY, MANY OF THEM HAVE NO CONNECTION TO THAT HOME.

>> GETTING DEPORTED AND BEING OUT HERE, IT'S ALMOST LIKE BEING TREATED AS A FOREIGNER IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY.

THEY LOOK AT YOU AS AN OUTSIDER.

>> Reporter: DISCRIMINATION PLAYS OUT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

SOME DEPORTEES STRUGGLE TO SPEAK SPANISH OR SPEAK IT WITH A THICK AMERICAN ACCENT.

OTHERS LIKE SALAZAR HAVE VISIBLE TATTOOS.

>> SOMETIMES I'M ON THE BUS, AND THE ONLY AVAILABLE SEAT WILL BE NEXT TO ME, AND PEOPLE WILL COME, AND THEY WILL STAND UP, AND A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WILL STAND UP RATHER THAN SIT NEXT TO ME.

4 SALAZAR WANTS AZAR TO CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY AMERICANS, VIEW DEPORTATION.

IN HIS CASE, DEPORTATION SEPARATED HIM FROM THE REST OF HIS FAMILY BACK HOME IN OAKLAND.

>> YOU AREN'T JUST DEPORTING A PERSON.

YOU ARE DEPORTING A FATHER.

YOU ARE DEPORTING AN UNCLE.

YOU ARE DEPORTING A FAMILIES MAIN BREADWINNER.

YOU ARE SEPARATING FAMILIES.

YOU ARE JUST NOT PUNISHING THE PERSON WHO IS BEING DEPORTED.

YOU ARE PUNISHING THE WHOLE FAMILY.

>> REPORTER:'S ART IS ALSO POLITICAL COMMENTARY.

SALAZAR JUST FINISHED PUTTING UP AN ART INSTALLATION AT THE BEACH ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER, RIGHT AT THE VERY TOP OF THE BORDER WALL.

IT FEATURES RESIDENCE JOE BIDEN AND DONALD TRUMP LOG IN A PASSIONATE KISS.

IT'S MEANT TO CAPTURE THE DISAPPOINTMENT ADVOCATES FEEL WITH JOE BIDEN'S IMMIGRATION POLICY BY DRAWING ATTENTION TO JUST HOW SIMILAR THEY ARE TO TRUMPS.

>> REALLY, THE MESSAGE BEHIND IT IS JOE BIDEN BREAKING ALL OF HIS IMMIGRATION PROMISES, AND ALSO ADOPTING TRUMPET ERA LAWS THAT ARE ANTI-IMMIGRANT.

>> Reporter: GUSTAVO SOLIS , KPBS NEWS.

>>> ART ISN'T JUST WHAT WE SEE .

IT IS ALSO WHAT WE HEAR.

THIS FALL THE FIRST EVER CALIFORNIA FESTIVAL FEATURED CLASSICAL MUSIC WITH A FOCUS ON NEW COMPOSERS.

I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE IN MEXICO EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT HELPED PREPARE THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY FOR THE BIG CELEBRATION.

>> Reporter: FRESH OFF OF A NATIONAL TOUR THAT ENDED IN A PERFORMANCE IN CARNEGIE HALL LAST MONTH OF THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY WAS ON THE ROAD AGAIN LAST WEEK.

HAD OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT CLOSE TO HOME.

>> TO COME HERE IS I THINK IMPORTANT AS WE LOOK FOR CULTURAL BONDS AND CONNECTIONS.

>> Reporter: HERE IS TIJUANA , TIJUANA'S CULTURAL CENTER, THE SYMPHONY PRESENTING A FREE CONCERT TO OUR SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ].

GET A PRE-CONCERT NEWS CONFERENCE, MARTHA GILMER AND THE COUNCIL OF MEXICO IN SAN DIEGO, CARLOS GONZALEZ GUTIERREZ, SPOKE OF THE TRANSCENDENT MEANING OF THIS CULTURAL EVENT.

>> THEIR WORK HAS TO BENEFIT EVERYBODY.

IT HAS TO REACH EVERY MEMBER OF THESE SINGLE REGIONS.

ALTHOUGH IT IS COMPOSED BY TWO NATIONS, IT IS IN THE END ONE SOLID REGION.

>> THE NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSION AND COMMUNICATION IN OUR WORLD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER, AND MUSIC AND HELP US DO THAT.

>> Reporter: BACK TO THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE CALIFORNIA FESTIVAL, SHOWCASING WORKS THAT ARE FIVE YEARS OLD OR LESS, LIKE -- NUMBER FOUR.

>> ♪ ♪ >> THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF THE LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC, THE SAN FRANCISCO TIFFANY ORCHESTRA ARE THE ANCHORS FOR THE CALIFORNIA FESTIVAL, WHICH IS A THREE WEEK PERIOD OF TIME, AND WE HAVE INVITED MANY MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS FROM AROUND THE STATE.

100 AS A MATTER OF FACT, TO PERFORM NEW MUSIC, AND TO SHOWCASE NEW COMPOSERS.

>> ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: BUT NOT JUST NEW COMPOSERS.

SOME OF A PREVIOUS ERA WHO BROKE THE NORMS OF THEIR DAY WERE INCLUDED, LIKE RICARD STRAUSS AND HIS FAMOUS [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] .

>> ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: THE PIECE REQUIRES THE FULL 90 MEMBER ORCHESTRA, AND THAT INCLUDES AN ORGAN.

AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, MOVING THE FULL ORCHESTRA HERE INCLUDING TWO HARPS, A MARIMBA, AND OF COURSE THE OREGON, WAS QUITE THE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGE, A JOB WHICH PRIMARILY FELL TO THE SYMPHONY'S VICE PRESIDENT OF IMPACT AND INNOVATION, LAURA REYNOLDS.

>> IT IS A COMPLICATED JIGSAW PUZZLE OF PACKING THAT ARE INCREDIBLE PRODUCTION TEAM PUT TOGETHER, SO YES, IT HAS TAKEN MONTHS OF PLANNING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY MUSICIANS, HOW MANY INSTRUMENTS, HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET IT ACROSS THE BORDER IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

>> ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: THE C2 THEATER SEATS ABOUT 1000 PEOPLE, AND IT WAS FULL UNTIL HUNDREDS WERE TURNED AWAY.

IF THEY COULD TALK, THEY PROBABLY AGREE WITH THE AUDIENCE, THIS VISIT, THIS PERFORMANCE WAS ON SO MANY LEVELS A ROUSING SUCCESS.

>> NOW I MUST TELL YOU, AFTER ALL MY YEARS IN THIS BUSINESS, I'VE COVERED A LOT OF STORIES, AND THAT WAS DONE ON THE EVENING OF DIA DE LOS WEIRDOS THIS YEAR, AND IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DELIGHTFUL TIMES I'VE HAD COVERING A STORY.

I THOUGHT I'D GIVE YOU A PERSONAL ANECDOTE RIGHT THERE.

>>> IF YOU ENJOY OUR COVERAGE OF ARTS AND CULTURE, BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE.

YOU CAN GET NOTIFICATIONS WHEN NEW CONTENT IS POSTED FROM KPBS NEWS AND SOME OF THE ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING THAT AIRS ON KPBS.

THAT'S ALSO WHERE WE LIVE STREAM THE KPBS "EVENING EDITION" WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00.

>>> THIS YEAR THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY STRUGGLED AND IS STILL STRUGGLING WITH AN OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM .

THAT IS WHY ONE SAN DIEGANS STEPPED IN TO HELP.

BACK IN AUGUST, ME AGAIN, I MET A DOG GROOMER WHO BRINGS AN ARTISTIC TOUCH TO HELP POOCHES FIND LOVING HOMES.

>> Reporter: AT THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY'S EL CAJON CAMPUS, DOG GROOMER GABE SAITO SAID IS MAKING HIS MONTHLY VISIT.

HE'S TRANSFORMING THIS LITTLE GUY NAMED MINOW INTO A TIGER.

HIS PASSION FOR THIS WORK BEGAN YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS A BOY GROWING UP IN CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE FAVELAS OF SAN PABLO, BRAZIL.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE AN ARTIST.

I LOVE TO DRAW AND PAINT.

>> Reporter: HE ALSO HAD A PASSION FOR DOGS.

HE STARTED HELPING A DOG GROOMER IN HIS HOMETOWN.

EVENTUALLY THE GROOMING AND THE ARTISTIC SPARK CAME TOGETHER.

HE MADE HIS WAY TO SAN DIEGO IN 2014 AND NOW HAS HIS OWN DOG GROOMING BUSINESS IN UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS.

THERE, HE CHARGES ANYWHERE BETWEEN 500 AND $1700 TO TRANSFORM DOGS INTO WALKING WORKS OF ART.

HE APPEARED ON AN ABC SHOW CALLED "PITCH PERFECT" IN THE SUMMER 2021 AND QUICKLY GAINED NATIONAL ATTENTION.

AND LAST DECEMBER, HE HAD AN IDEA.

>> I WAS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GET BACK, SO I REACHED OUT TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY AND I WAS LIKE HEY, WHAT IF WE BRING ATTENTION NOT ONLY FOR THE DOGS TO GET ADOPTED RIGHT AWAY, BUT TO TREAT THE CAUSE.

>> Reporter: MORE IN THE CAUSE IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST A LOOK AT HOW THIS ALL WORKS.

HUMANE SOCIETY TEAM SELECTS A DOG OR DOGS THAT WERE TYPICALLY GET LOOK OVER, LIKE OUR FRIEND MINOW, AND THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL.

THIS IS NYLA.

HER FAMILY HAD TO GIVE HER UP.

HE EMPLOYS A DAZZLING ARRAY OF COLORS.

ALL OF THE DIE IS VEGAN AND NON- TOXIC.

IT DOESN'T HARM THE DOGS IN ANY WAY, BUT IT IS A CHALLENGE.

HOW MANY ARTISTS YOU KNOW AND HAVE TO CONTEND WITH A CANVAS THAT MOVES?

AFTER THE DOCKETS THEIR COLOR, THEY GET A BATH.

THEN, TIME FOR BLOW DRYING.

AND FINALLY A TRIM, AND VOIL@, THE CANINE SPA TREATMENT IS FINISHED.

THE TRANSFORMATION COMPLETE.

AFTER THAT THEY CHOSE A TREATMENT, THE ARTIST ALWAYS TAKES PICTURES AND VIDEOS OF HIS SUBJECTS.

QC, HE HAS HUGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE FOLLOWING HIM ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

MORE THAN 2 MILLION ON TIKTOK, AND ANOTHER HALF 1 MILLION ON INSTAGRAM.

IN ADDITION TO DONATING HIS TIME , HE ALSO PAYS FOR ADOPTION AT ANY OTHER FEES FOR DOGS THAT HAVE GOTTEN HIS SPECIAL TREATMENT.

HE WANTS TO REMOVE ANY BARRIERS THAT WOULD KEEP SOMEONE FROM ADOPTING ONE OF THESE FURRY FRIENDS.

HE SAYS IT'S ALL WORTH IT WHEN HE FINDS OUT THE DOGS HAVE IN FACT BEEN ADOPTED.

>> IT GIVES ME JOY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE FOCUS ON TRANSFORMING THE DOGS THAT NEED MORE ATTENTION.

REALLY BIG DOGS THAT HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING ADOPTED.

DOGS THAT ARE DROPPED OFF AT 19 YEARS OLD, THEY HAVE A MUCH HARDER TIME THAN A PUPPY OR SMALL DOG, SO WE FOCUS ON DOING THOSE GUYS.

WHEN I HEAR THOSE GUYS GET ADOPTED I'M OVER THE MOON.

I'M JUST GRATEFUL THAT I GET TO DO IT.

>> Reporter: SO FAR HIS BATTING AVERAGE IS ALMOST 1000.

WE SHOT THE STORY IN EARLY AUGUST, AND UNFORTUNATELY, NYLA IS STILL HERE.

AND ALL THE OTHERS ARE NOW IN LOVING HOMES.

STILL, THERE ARE SO MANY MORE WAITING FOR THAT SPECIAL PERSON OR FAMILY.

>> A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT STORY AIRED I FOUND OUT FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY THAT NYLA WAS ADOPTED.

>>> BE SURE TO GET THE LATEST FROM KPBS NEWS DELIVERY TO YOUR INBOX.

BREAKING NEWS, ARTS, AND ARE TOP HEADLINES ARE ALL AVAILABLE AS NEWSLETTERS.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I AM JOHN CARROLL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.