JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It’s colorful. It’s new – and packs a strong message. Jacksonville is an artistic force to be reckoned with.
“We have a mantra that we live by at Art (Re)public. That’s ‘if you put interesting art into an area, interesting people want to be there,” Jessica Santiago said.
Do you think art will help revitalize Downtown Jacksonville? Organizers of this new project, say yes. pic.twitter.com/vMnfxCvLK8
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) October 19, 2016
Wednesday’s snip of the ribbon kicked off Art (Re)public’s mural expo project. Artists from around the world will leave their mark on handpicked spaces throughout Downtown Jacksonville.
“They’re beautiful and it adds a nice addition to Downtown Jacksonville,” Kanesha Brookins, who works downtown, said.
The ribbon is cut and Jacksonville's new mural project is underway! 🎭🎨 pic.twitter.com/EFhs7JK1ZT
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) October 19, 2016
This piece sits proudly on a W. Forsyth St. parking garage -- facing The Trio buildings. It was done by a German artist. 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/iGKZxcJYit
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) October 19, 2016
“We first wanted the largest walls we could get," Santiago continued. "These caliber artist like to work on a really monumental scale and then also the ones that would have the most impact within the community and the most traffic."
There will be 13 total mural locations around Downtown Jacksonville. An empty parking garage wall behind s across from the Times Union Center and next to the Omni Hotel. An artist from Australia will come in on Thursday to start work this weekend.
Seen this giant mural in Downtown Jacksonville? It's part of a bigger, cooler project called Art (Re)public. 🎨 I'll have the story at 5:15. pic.twitter.com/jYo6PO4mTh
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) October 19, 2016
It’s no secret that downtown has some old, abandoned buildings that need new life. The hope is that this project will help do that.
“Your eye might get distracted by the murals, so yeah, it’s a good idea,” tourist Laura Martinez-Robinson said.
Organizers modeled this initiative after others they’ve seen worldwide, including Miami and London. Sponsors, including Este Lauder and Preston Haskell, made Art (Re)public’s vision possible. All the murals are expected to be finished by Nov. 9 and can be found at:
- 245 Water Street (Enterprise Parking Garage) by artist James Reka, Australia
- 233 East Forsyth Street by artist INO, Athens, Greece
- 317 West Forsyth Street by artist Waone Interesni Kazki, Ukraine
- 1 West Bay Street by artist CYRCLE, Los Angeles
- 1 West Bay Street by artist CYRCLE, Los Angeles
- 51 West Bay Street by artist, René Romero Schuler, Chicago
- 102 A. Philip Randolph Blvd by artist Astrograff, Paris
- 220 Riverside avenue (Unity Plaza Shipping Container) by artist Jeremy Penn, New York
- 325 West Forsyth Street by artist Kenor, Spain
- 100 East Adams Street by artist Nico Holderbaum, Jacksonville
- 140 Monroe Street by artist Phlegm, UK
- 25 West Forsyth Street by artist Case Maclaim, Germany
Cox Media Group
