My Clearwater
Downtown Mural Program
Why should art be a part of everyday life?
02 MyClearwater
By making it visible and accessible,
public art can have tremendous impact
in communities. It can foster community
connection; it can increase one’s attachment to a place, and
it can create a feeling of pride in public spaces. When one
encounters art, it can help bring a smile to one’s day.
That was part of the inspiration for the Community
Redevelopment Agency’s mural program. The city doesn’t
see art as just a tool for beautification — it is an anchor for
redevelopment. Key to Clearwater’s mission of revitalizing
Downtown Clearwater is to create a high-quality public
realm that weaves art and culture into the fabric of everyday
life. In June 2018, the city issued a call for artists to design
and paint murals that are inspired by this city.
Clearwater received more than 140 applications from artists
both locally and around the world. Downtown businesses
signed up to have their façades transformed through art.
Four murals were completed in January, and the city is
thrilled to see the final products throughout downtown.
This is the first large-scale mural project in Downtown
Clearwater, and it will set the tone for future public
art projects. Throughout the year, residents will see
how art can engage and inspire community through
programs such as the Sculpture360 program, a
rotating exhibition on Cleveland Street. Residents
also can see art take shape through creative placemaking
projects that bring color and vibrancy
to a parking lot, and art also inspires innovative
partnerships that feature artistic culture and
technology, such as the Dreams of Dalí Virtual
Reality Experience at Second Century Studios,
which goes through June 30.
See these bright and beautiful murals for
yourself in Downtown Clearwater. For more
information, visit downtownclearwater.
com/mural-program, and share your photos
with the city with #muralsofclearwater.
Peace Offering is located at 1360 Cleveland St. This mural pays
homage to Florida’s rich Native American history and depicts a
woman protecting the land from a storm on the horizon. Artists: Brian
McAllister and the Gibbs High School Mural Club.
Elysian Day, located at 512 Cleveland St., is inspired by the
rainforest and the transformative power of nature. Artist: Cecilia Lueza.
One Hundred Years Before J. Cole, located at 620 Drew St., was
inspired by the history of the region. The mural showcases a visual
juxtaposition of coincidences resulting from a trip along the Orange
Belt Railway and the modern bicycle. Artists: husband-and-wife team,
Michelle Sawyer and Tony Krol.
Comunidad is located at the Garden Avenue Garage. Comunidad
is a celebration of cultural diversity and shows empowered, united
women who form a network and community. Artists: Florencia Duran
and Camilo Nunez from Uruguay.
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