"Clubhouse City"
- Title
- "Clubhouse City"
- Creator
- Jose Dominguez
Jose Dominguez is a Minnesota-based artist commissioned for numerous murals across Minnesota and the rest of the United States. Jose was born in Arizona but lived in Wisconsin, Colorado, and Minnesota; one can see this influence in his work. Much of his early work reflects being Hispanic and growing up in these primarily white areas. In recent years, Dominguez’s work has focused more on spreading happiness through art, like his work with Clubhouse City in 2022 for the Chomazone Mural Festival. This work is often colorful, playful, focused on animals, and abstracts on humanity. Jose stated about being commissioned for his work, “I feel a deep sense of gratitude when I am invited to share my work in any public space. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have my art amongst the existing Chromazone murals in a neighborhood that celebrates creative people and businesses.” (Ruman, 1) Jose Dominguez’s most recent work is also in Minnesota; he was commissioned for a mural on the Minneapolis Skyway called “It’s okay to laugh.” This mural is also colorful and playful like much of his other work, and aims to disrupt people’s daily routines and hopes to make them smile! - Date
- Creation: Jose Dominguez, 2022
Documentation: Will Tautges, 10/24/2024 - Description
- Composition: This mural features cartoonish animals in a colorful setting. There is a cat in a barn, a bird in a milk carton, another bird in a tree, a flowerpot, and another bird on top of the barn. Dominguez arranges the elements of Clubhouse City with a dynamic sense of balance and flow, drawing the eye smoothly across the mural. The composition is asymmetrical, giving it a sense of natural movement and energy.
Color: This mural uses many bright colors, including orange, yellow, light blue, and pink, contributing to its happy, cheerful tone. The color palette is vibrant, dominated by warm, earthy tones mixed with occasional pops of cool blues and greens. This choice creates a sense of warmth and community, reinforcing the mural’s inviting and lively atmosphere. The combination of colors brings an energetic and upbeat mood, reflecting the communal spirit of a “clubhouse” environment.
Line: This art uses straight and rounded lines as outlines for the objects in the building other than the tree, which helps the shapes pop and creates a 3D effect. Dominguez uses thick, bold, thinner, more delicate lines throughout the mural. Curved lines give the piece fluidity, while the occasional use of straight lines helps to define the structural aspects.
Texture: This wall is half concrete and half brick, splitting the mural into two and contributing to its effect. Also, different areas feel rougher or smoother to the eye. This layering adds a sense of physical depth to the mural, inviting viewers to move closer to examine the details.
Space: This piece uses a 3D effect; the bottom middle of the mural is the front, and as you look up, the artist uses lines to make the trees appear farther away. Dominguez’s use of space is particularly effective in creating depth. He utilizes a foreground, middle ground, and background, arranging elements to make the mural feel like a miniature city extending back into space. This depth effect is achieved by layering and varying the scale of elements, with smaller, lighter-colored forms receding into the background while bolder, darker elements remain closer. - Subject
- During the 2022 Chroma Zone Mural Fest, Dominguez created the mural “Clubhouse City.” This mural is a bright and vibrant piece located in a back ally of Terra Firma Construction in St. Paul. It is not a coincidence that this mural is in a dilapidated ally; with recent gentrification in the area, Jose Domingues believes in the power of art to make people smile. The mural stands out in its location, bringing color and vibrance to its area to bring people together. This mural is relatively large, being about 10 feet by 10 feet. The goal of this mural was to spread happiness because it has a happy and playful nature. Not only does Clubhouse City bring color to the area, but it also spreads happiness to the people of the area. About this mural, Dominguez stated, “Clubhouse City is about being a part of a safe, warm, and welcoming neighborhood or community. It's also about creating a unique space that embodies all of your values and interests in life, even if it looks different than your neighbors.” (Ruman, 1)
- Rights
- Artist: Jose Dominguez
Researcher: Will Tautges - Source
- Chomazone Artist Bio:“Jose Dominguez.” Chroma Zone Mural & Art Festival, www.chromazone.net/jose-dominguez. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Artist Website: Instagram, www.instagram.com/hozay_dmngz/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
New Mural Informational Article: “Skyway Installation on View Now!” Minnesota Museum of American Art, mmaa.org/the-m-home-jose-dominguez-its-okay-to-laugh/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
More Information: Mnunsure. “Artist We Love: Jose
Dominguez.” Minnevangelist, 28 Mar. 2020, minnevangelist.com/jose-dominguez-co-exhibitions/.
Quotes: “Chroma Zone Mural Festival.” ArcGIS StoryMaps, Esri, 22 May 2023, storymps.arcgis.com/stories/312257de9f0d4d149d51d506ba7163f8.
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Jose DominguezJose Dominguez is a Minnesota-based artist commissioned for numerous murals across Minnesota and the rest of the United States. Jose was born in Arizona but lived in Wisconsin, Colorado, and Minnesota; one can see this influence in his work. Much of his early work reflects being Hispanic and growing up in these primarily white areas. In recent years, Dominguez’s work has focused more on spreading happiness through art, like his work with Clubhouse City in 2022 for the Chomazone Mural Festival. This work is often colorful, playful, focused on animals, and abstracts on humanity. Jose stated about being commissioned for his work, “I feel a deep sense of gratitude when I am invited to share my work in any public space. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have my art amongst the existing Chromazone murals in a neighborhood that celebrates creative people and businesses.” (Ruman, 1) Jose Dominguez’s most recent work is also in Minnesota; he was commissioned for a mural on the Minneapolis Skyway called “It’s okay to laugh.” This mural is also colorful and playful like much of his other work, and aims to disrupt people’s daily routines and hopes to make them smile!, “"Clubhouse City",” Museum in the streets: Murals in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, accessed January 20, 2026, https://mspmurals.omeka.net/items/show/38.