It’s said a picture is worth a thousand words. But for artist Sam Rodriguez, his new mural on the outskirts of San Jose’s Japantown may be worth a thousand stories.

Adorning the wall of the Kiem Laundromat on North Eighth and Empire streets, the colorful artwork will be officially unveiled Friday evening as part of the monthly Japantown art walk. Rodriguez will be on hand to talk about the process that went into creating it.

“When I think of murals, I think of outdoor books,” Rodriguez said. “This recent wall marks the first of many that I plan to do, which would depict the cultural landscape of San Jose through observations and interviews of its residents. This will result in pieces that could only be found in San Jose.”

Community volunteers — including a group of at-risk youth from the program Teaching Adolescents Skills in the Community — helped Rodriguez with the painting, allowing him to concentrate on the mural’s two portraits and other focal points.

Get top headlines in your inbox every afternoon.

Sign up for the free PM Report newsletter.

Following the 7 p.m. unveiling and artist’s talk, there’ll be a reception around the corner at Empire Seven Studios (525 N. 7th St.) featuring a solo exhibition of Rodriguez’s work. The celebration will also feature Blvd Bombs Lowrider cars, music by Akro1 and Ambitious Outsider and El Loco Taco food truck.

SJSU VOLLEYBALL TEAM GETS AN ASSIST: When Tu Rash of Bay Area eyewear maker Revelly Company wanted to donate eyeglasses and frames, she knew the Lions Club collected them and a quick Google search put her in touch with San Jose Host East Valley Lions Club President Gayle Kludt.

The donation was going to be significant so Kludt, a volunteer at San Jose State University, contacted Jolene Shepardson, SJSU’s women’s volleyball coach, and Chereese Thomas, director of operations of the women’s basketball team. So last week, a group of volleyball players — Breann Robinson, Luiza Andrade, Nandyala Gama and Kaitlynn Zdroik — along with Thomas and fellow SJSU alum Nancy Billings helped Kludt and her husband, Ken, load the donation onto a rental truck in a little more than an hour.

The Kludts drove the truck to the Lions in Sight warehouse in Vallejo where fellow Lions Linda and Walter Griffin and three other friends helped upack everything. Kludt had high praise for everyone who helped, but especially appreciated the assist from the Spartans.

“What could have been a ordeal was a quick, efficient and fun time for all involved,” she said. “I would actually do it again but only if I had the volleyball ladies to help.”

FIESTA DE ARTES ON THE MOVE: Los Gatos’ Fiesta de Artes is making a big jump across Highway 17 to a new location on North Santa Cruz Avenue for this year’s festival, which takes place Saturday and Sunday.

Reading this on your phone? Stay up to date with our free mobile app. Get it from the Apple app store or the Google Play store.

The Kiwanis Club of Los Gatos has presented the festival for more than 20 years, and the club has been hoping for a move from the Los Gatos Civic Center to give the event a bit more breathing room. Nearly 200 artists from around the region and the country will have their work on display during the free festival, which will feature music and vendors from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Get more details at www.lgfiesta.org.

And as my colleague Judy Peterson points out, this means Santa Cruz-bound beachgoers should stick to Highway 17, since North Santa Cruz will be closed both days from Bachman Avenue all the way to Main Street.