The Lunar New Year is filled with happy greetings, giving blessings, and celebrating the auspicious times. It is a time to reconnect with family and friends while welcoming new and exciting opportunities. As we bid the year of the Rat farewell, we are hopeful for the possibilities in the future. This year, Lunar New Year is especially meaningful. The desire to unite with our loved ones is stronger than ever. Wells Fargo wanted to capture the spirit of what this holiday means with their Unity Ox.
The Unity Ox stands in confidence, looking towards the future to a new year filled with happiness and prosperity, together with the community. The modern take on traditional celebratory Lunar New Year colors overlaps to provide a sense of movement and flow to represent the coming together of people. Floral accents on the horns and body symbolize the coming of spring and new beginnings. A wave pattern covers the hooves signifying a sea of blessings for the new year. Scribed across the body of the Ox is a common phrase that echoes the sentiment of togetherness and community translating to, “millions of people together as one.”
Wells Fargo has chosen the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, a non-profit dedicated to elevating underserved communities and giving voice to equality through education and contemporary art, as the recipient of the proceeds of this Ox.
Artist bio: Eduardo Valadez Arenas
Eduardo Valadez Arenas is a Mexican-American Artist from Mexico City by way of the Coachella Valley. He is currently residing and working in the Bay area. His artworks echo diaspora, his Mexican-American heritage, and the influences of California pop culture. His mixed-media works on paper and handmade panels contain elements of cartoon illustrations, sign painting, traditional printmaking techniques, and street art.
Outside of the studio, his work as an educator has led to collaborations with art-based organizations like Kala Arts Institute, Ryse Youth Center, Riverside Museum of Photography, Oakland School for the Arts, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and La Cocina. Eduardo has also worked with The Parade Guys on various parades including many years for the Chinese New Year parade. His contributions have included painting and building art and structures for the many floats as well as parade-day event support.
For more of Eduardo’s work, follow him at https://www.instagram.com/lacocinaloca/
Learn more about the Ox on Parade and don’t forget to enter our photo contest. From February 3 – March 14, snap a picture of you and the Ox, tag us @chineseparade, and use the hashtag #oxonparade. It’s that simple! See official rules here.