GCS in DTSA

Giants Casting Shadows – Downtown Santa Ana

GCS in DTSA

Giants Casting Shadows – Downtown Santa Ana

The Heart of the DTSA Art Walk

Black and gold calligraffiti street art
GCS Clothing Store Logo
Zak Perez logo icon

Art gallery & Street wear in Santa Ana

In April 2023, I was invited to create a mural, which is located in between GCS and the Yost Theater. This doorway mural at was intended to be an immersive experience. Using my signature style of calligraffiti – a combination of calligraphy and graffiti – I created a design that includes the not only the wall, but also the walls on the right and left side, and the ceiling too. This mural was created in my go-to color scheme, black and gold. I used two brushes for this painting, a two inch wide and a three inch wide brush.

My Most Recent Mural at GCS – December 2023

Red mandala graffiti mural surrounded by other graffiti artBlood red, 3d, calligraffiti mandala mural painted for December 2023’s art walk.
This mural was a little different for me because I used a beautiful, deep, blood red paint that I had never used before. As I looked around at the surrounding art, I noticed everything was so vibrant and colorful. While deciding on my color scheme, at first I was thinking of doing something colorful to match the surrounding murals. I love bright and colorful art, but I don’t typically choose those kind of pallets, so I decided to stay true to my style, and I went with a black base coat, a single color and a single three inch wide brush.

Giants Casting Shadows’s Impact on the Community

GCS, located in Downtown Santa Ana, is a prominent feature of the local art scene. The diverse range of graffiti art on display never fails to catch the eye of passersby.

GCS is more than just a clothing store – it’s also an art gallery and a street art supply store, making it a hub for artists and art lovers in the area. For over 14 years, GCS has been a fixture of the Orange County street art scene, and artists from all over the region come here to showcase their work.

GCS Santa Ana front entrance

GCS front entrance murals and graffiti art

One of the things that makes GCS so special is the way it interacts with the surrounding environment. The building is covered in murals, and people come from all over to take pictures in front of the store and admire the artwork. Perez’s mural adds to the rich tapestry of street art and graffiti in the area, and I’m proud to have contributed to this dynamic community.

GCS Clothing Store and Art Gallery in Downtown Santa Ana

While painting the mural, at the DTSA Art Walk I had the opportunity to meet many local residents and artists who were excited to see a new piece of art being added to the area. I also enjoyed spending time exploring the other murals and graffiti art in the neighborhood. I recommend checking out the other businesses in the area like the 4th Street Market and The Blue Lot, both are a quick five minute walk from GCS.

If you’re a fan of street art or just looking to explore a vibrant and eclectic neighborhood in Orange County, check out GCS and the other murals in the area. And if you happen to be there on the first Saturday of the month, be sure to check out the art walk!

My First Mural at GCS

Zak Perez's first mural at GCS in DTSAThe final shot of my first mural at GCS titled “Make Love Not War”

Zak Perez painting a mural at GCS in Downtown Santa AnaProgress shot of me starting this mural where the words “Make Love Not War” are written

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