The basic story is so cute it would make for a nice children’s book: An adorable penguin is setting off from downtown San Jose on a mission to explore the city over the next couple of months and spread a message of peace.
The reality is slightly less cute but certainly just as important. The penguin is a maquette, representing a figure in “Seeds of Peace,” a 20-foot tall bronze sculpture currently being created by artist Mario Chiodo in his Napa County studio. Driven by the vision and philanthropy of Diane Brandenburg, plans are for it to be installed in December at Arena Green West in the Guadalupe River Park.
“When I first imagined ‘Seeds of Peace,’ I was thinking about the world our children will inherit,” Brandenburg said. “This monument is my way of planting something lasting, a symbol of compassion, courage and our shared humanity.”
The Rotary Club of San Jose is joining local philanthropist Diane Brandenburg to bring the Mario Chiodo-designed Seeds of Peace Monument to Arena Green West, adjacent to the SAP Center. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved the artwork on Oct. 7. (Courtesy rendering)
Philanthropist Diane Brandenburg, who is the lead sponsor of the Seeds of Peace monument, has an animated conversation with Sharks mascot SJ Sharkie at a launch party for the sculpture’s public fundraising phase in downtown San Jose on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
The site where the Seeds of Peace monument will be installed in December 2026 at Arena Green West in the Guadalupe River Park in downtown San Jose. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Downtown Association CEO Brian Kurtz jokingly wore a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey to an event launching the public fundraising phase for the Seeds of Peace monument on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. The sculpture will feature a penguin and be placed across from SAP Center, the San Jose Sharks home arena. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
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The Rotary Club of San Jose is joining local philanthropist Diane Brandenburg to bring the Mario Chiodo-designed Seeds of Peace Monument to Arena Green West, adjacent to the SAP Center. The San Jose City Council unanimously approved the artwork on Oct. 7. (Courtesy rendering)
The sculpture depicts a female figure, her cloak billowing out in the shape of a seed around her and etched with more than 300 global symbols of peace, holding olive branches and surrounded by six children, each representing a continent.
OK, six children and a penguin, who represents Antarctica.
The penguin figure was unveiled at a reception Wednesday in the Arena Green West Pavilion, just steps away from the Seeds of Peace site and across from SAP Center. It will be showing up at various locations around San Jose over the next several weeks to inform people about the art project and inspire people to contribute to the public part of a fundraising campaign, “Follow the Penguin. Help Build Peace.”
Brandenburg has contributed the bulk of the project’s $3.3 million cost and partnered with the Rotary Club of San Jose to raise the final $1.5 million. The project is now about $200,000 from that target. You can get more information about the fundraising plan and how you can get the penguin to pay a visit to your business at www.seedsofpeace.world/sanjose.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan praised Brandenburg’s vision for inspiring young people to celebrate diversity through what will be the largest gift of public art in the city’s history.
“I think this vision of educating our children around nonviolence and peace and how we can live better together is so powerful,” Mahan said. “I’m so excited to see this come to fruition.”
Peace is a serious topic, but Wednesday’s kickoff event had some lighthearted moments, too. San Jose Downtown Association CEO Brian Kurtz played prankster, showing up in a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey, not exactly a welcome sight so close to the Shark Tank.
“I was told this was a penguin event,” Kurtz protested before beloved San Jose Sharks mascot S.J. Sharkie wrestled a Sharks jersey on him.
Sharkie had one for the penguin, too, so everyone knows he may be about spreading peace, but it still has to be teal.
TEAL UPGRADES: Seeds of Peace isn’t the only thing happening with Arena Green West these days. Last year, the nonfunctioning carousel was removed — with the equipment and historic photos stored away — and replaced by the open air, covered pavilion. Benches, bike racks and other stair railings have all been painted teal to give the space continuity with SAP Center.
San Jose City Councilmember Michael Mulcahy, whose district includes the park, said the Sharks Foundation is partnering with KaBOOM! to install a new playground there, replacing the dilapidated “tot lot” that’s down to just two pieces of equipment. All that’s missing is a Stanley Cup parade, right?
HONOR ROLL: Usually, civic recognition ceremonies take place at San Jose City Hall. But Pasquale “Pat” Panzica is more of a neighborhood guy, so George Kukar Jr. offered to host a ceremony at his family’s stalwart restaurant, House of Pizza, not far from where Panzica grew up.
Pasquale “Pat” Panzica, left, receives a Certificate of Recognition from San Jose City Councilmember Michael Mulcahy at Kukar’s House of Pizza on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (Courtesy office of Michael Mulcahy)
“Our neighborhood is shaped by lifelong residents who have dedicated their lives to our community’s character, and Pat is chief among them,” Kukar said of Panzica, 74, a member of the Nor-Cal Fishing Club and Sons of Sicily Men’s Club. “He loves sharing stories about the history of Goosetown and how our area has evolved.”
So before the Friday lunch rush hit on April 14, Councilmember Michael Mulcahy presented Panzica with a certificate of recognition from the city of San Jose. Let’s hope a 1950s Confusion pizza came with it.
‘SOUL STREET’ CELEBRATION: I’m not sure who took that 2025 Gensler survey that ranked downtown San Jose poorly when it comes to vibrancy, but they’re not hearing about the same downtown I am.
Just take the portion of South First Street between San Carlos and San Salvador streets that four Black-owned businesses on the block — Jackie’s Place, Nirvana Soul, Ashy Aromas and Sainte Claire Market — have rebranded as “Soul Street.” They are putting together an incredible evening Sept. 6 called “From Ivory to Onyx,” a luxury culinary experience that will support Vibes & Smiles, a nonprofit that supports low-income and unsheltered families.
The chefs participating in the dinner include Leilani Baugh of Napa’s Vin en Noir; Jalen Ware, professionally known in the Bay Area as Chefew; and Jacquelyn Jackson, whose Jackie’s Place location on Soul Street has raised the culinary game in the SoFA district. Special guests will include artists Tyler Gordon, author and artist Nicole Kindle and Earl Stevens, who you might know better as E-40 and will be bringing his Tycoon Cognac and Earl Stevens Selections Wines to the event.
Ticket sales end Aug. 28, and you can get more information at www.soulstreetsj.com.
POLITICAL GRILLING: If there’s one thing you can count on in an election year, it’s that the San Jose Chamber of Commerce’s annual barbecue at History Park will be loaded with elected officials and candidates, wisely making sure they’re seen by the scores of community and business leaders among the margaritas and plates of barbecue.
As an inquiring journalist, it gave me the opportunity to ask one of the most important questions of the election season: Why is Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens’ face on so many billboards?
It turns out he’s not moonlighting as an injury attorney but is the beneficiary of an ad by Grow California, an independent expenditure outfit founded by tech guys Chris Larsen and Tim Draper to support more moderate Democrats and Republicans. Ahrens — who was first elected in 2024 and represents Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara and parts of San Jose — said his impression is they support candidates who are more interested in solving problems than engaging in political partisanship, which could make one wonder why there aren’t more faces on those billboards.