Art on the Block Mural Day Brings a Message of Unity and Inclusion
Brushes, rollers, paint, and dozens of sweaty volunteers transformed the intersections on Saturday.jpg
by Chip Weiner
Temperatures in the high 90s and oppressive humidity didn’t slow artists and volunteers from participating in the Art on the Block Mural Day happening in five intersections across the city of Tampa on Saturday. Rollers rolled and brushes brushed transforming normally black asphalt into works of art. The city commissioned local artists to come up with work that promoted unity and inclusiveness for this one-day project. To date more than a dozen murals have been painted in the city of Tampa.
Big murals require a big pile of supplies. These brushes rollers and paint are just part of the stock required to complete Saturdays art
Through the Art on the Block initiative, Mayor Jane Castor envisions bringing art and artists into neighborhoods. Additionally, officials also believe that there is a secondary gain from these pieces, believing street murals calm traffic by adding visual interest to intersections.
Anyone could volunteer and dozens did. Participants were required to sign a waiver and wear a mask while on the project. Drinks and snacks were provided by host organizations and others.
East Tampa, East 21st Avenue & North 15th Street
Artist James Vann designed the work at 15th St. and 21st Ave. His art is featured in other murals in the city including the Tampa Police Department on 22nd Ave.
Vann's mural is a Kente Cloth, emblematic of African heritage according to Natasha Goodley, chairperson for the East Tampa CRA
The mural is completed one section at a time as volunteers fight the heat and humidity.
Downtown Black Lives Matter, East Cass Street & North Jefferson Street
Melissa Koby- one of 8 artists working on the project, paints the mural at East Cass Street & North Jefferson Street. She creates digital art and displays it mostly on social media. See her Instagram work at @MKOBY_
The design for the intersection at East Cass Street & North Jefferson Street was ambitious. It is more complex and larger than others and had eight artists help with the design.
The large piece comes together with lots of helping hands. It was co-sponsored by the Tampa Downtown Partnership and Greenman-Pedersen and supported by volunteers from the Children’s Board and the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization
Tampa Heights, North Franklin Street & West Henderson Avenue
Artist Cam Parker celebrates his mural at North Franklin Street & West Henderson Avenue in Tampa Heights. Parker is a multi talented artist and exhibits work both in Tampa and St. Petersburg.
Parkers design, Co-sponsored by the Tampa Downtown Partnership and Tampa LGBT Chamber, is a multi-colored fist raised in solidarity representing the theme of unity and inclusion.
West Tampa, Habana Avenue & West Tampa Bay Boulevard
The shapes in the work at the corner of Habana and Tampa Bay Blvd represent the coming together of community in Unity according to artist Cecilia Lueza. The mural is sponsored by the City of Tampa, and volunteers provided by the Our Aim Foundation
Artist Cecilia Lueza, designer of the West Tampa art project project, takes a break from the high 90's temperatures. She would like to continue the tradition of murals in intersections and see it spread across the city.
Westshore, West Laurel Street & North Grady Avenue
The mural by Artist Anthony Freese at West Laurel Street & North Grady Avenue was the smallest of the days projects, and features the city skyline and the waters of Tampa Bay. The work is sponsored by the Westshore Alliance.