The Downtown Oxnard Improvement Association presented “Re-Dial: In Memoriam of the Payphone,” a one-night-only art reception on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 519 South C Street, Oxnard, CA. This free public event celebrated the imaginative spirit of 11 local artists who reimagined abandoned payphones throughout downtown Oxnard, turning relics of the past into striking works of street art.
“Re-Dial” honored not only the visual creativity behind these pieces but also the cultural memory of the public payphone — once a lifeline in urban streetscapes, now a near-extinct artifact. The exhibition featured photographs documenting each transformed payphone, capturing the collective energy of the project.
Adding to the night’s artistic tribute was an exclusive 805-area screening of the award-winning short documentary, “It’s for You: Ephemeral Art & the Death of the Public Phone,” directed by Ryan Steven Green, documentary filmmaker from Los Angeles. Known for his Instagram archive @PayphonesofLosAngeles, Green’s work explores the intersection of public infrastructure, nostalgia, and creative reclamation.
“We’re thrilled to host this celebration of public art and cultural storytelling right in the heart of downtown,” said a Abel Ramirez Magana, Executive Director for the Downtown Oxnard Improvement Association, who coordinated the project. “These artists are reclaiming space, recharging conversations, and reminding us that even the most obsolete objects can inspire new connections.”
The event included refreshments, a chance to meet the artists, and an opportunity to engage with downtown Oxnard’s growing creative scene.
For more information, please visit downtownoxnard.org or follow @downtownoxnard on social media.