Winning Designs Named for “Wall to Wall” Art Fest

5/20/2021

Arts Alive - May 2021

On June 5-6, mural designs by local artists will be painted around Old Town as part of a new celebration of the arts.

- by Steve Barney

A new mural spelling out "LOVE" in international sign language is just one of the fun new murals being painted in Old Town as part of a new "Wall to Wall" Arts Fest! The artist is Andrew Switzer of Gulfport.

The Arts, Hancock County’s new “Wall to Wall” Public Art Festival on June 5-6 will include community mural painting, art, music, and culture.

The festival brings together business owners, artists and community civic groups to paint murals on building facades in Old Town Bay St. Louis, the Depot District and other locations across Hancock County.

Arts Alive
is sponsored by

Wall to Wall Art Festival
Schedule of Events

Mural and breaker box painting
All weekend long
Locations across Old Town Bay St. Louis

Artist Hive 405 Blaize Ave
Saturday June 5

10am - 5pm Artist vending and demonstrations
12pm - 1:30pm Music Stage: Shannon Williford
2pm - 5pm Music Stage: Dave Mayley Band

Sunday June 6

12pm - 4pm Artist vending and demonstrations
1pm - 4pm Music Stage: Beau King Trio

The event is being produced by Steve Barney and Ann Madden from The Arts, Hancock County, in conjunction with Caitlin Bourgeois of the Old Town Merchants Association. The motive is the belief that art has the power to inspire social change.

Event organizer Ann Madden states, “We believe diversity will only make our community stronger and more vibrant. We encourage area artists to share the story of our community’s diversity and cultural uniqueness through public art.”

The hub of the activities will be 405 Blaize Avenue in the Depot District, the new community arts center and headquarters for The Arts, Hancock County. At that location you will find artist vending, demonstrations, hands-on activities and live music.

Performers include Blues legend Shannon Williford, local favorites The Dave Mayley Band, and the Beau King Trio.

Over 35 mural submissions were received, representing 19 artists from across the Gulf Coast. The winning artists are:

Michelle Allee, Pass Christian

Michelle is primarily a self-taught artist; she has been instructed in various art techniques internationally. Her work is exhibited in galleries across the US. In her work, viewers are able to see their loved ones or themselves and visualize whatever emotion they wish to conjure. Michelle will be creating a joyful mural on Bay St. Louis Chatelaine Cottage at 306 Hancock Street.

Suzie Brown, Pass Christian

Suzie, a local student, is an accomplished young artist with murals displayed at Starfish Café and Clermont Harbor. Her style is bold, vibrant, and bursting with energy. Suzie’s portrait of her friend Metri Lyons will be painted on the side of the Fleurty Girl Boutique.

The design is by Suzie Brown, a local student.

Suzie's mural underway at Fleurty Girl on the 200 block of Main Street

Holly Garvin, Bay St. Louis

Holly is a multimedia artist and hydrographer for the US Navy Oceanographic Command. Holly’s work reaches beyond traditional technique, bringing together her love of boats, fish, water and nautical charts in her multimedia creations. Holly’s mermaid mural will be painted on the side of The Shops at Century Hall.

Holly working on her mermaid mural on the side of Century Hall on Second Street (May 31). photo by Ellis Anderson

Marian Glaser, BSL

Marian has a passion for art and creating, focusing on portraiture with a vintage feel. Marian’s murals line Bay St. Louis’s MLK Park and other locations across Hancock County. Marian will be working with the Old Town Merchants Association to paint a map of Old Town businesses on Antique Maison.

Hannah Gumbo, Lafayette, LA

Hannah has been hooked on art since childhood and is living out her dream as a full-time freelance illustrator/artist. She has extensive experience as a commissioned mural artist. Her fun, quirky and colorful mural designs bring joy to locations across the region. Hannah’s montage of treats will line the wall of Ms. Mary’s Old Town Snoballs and Ice Cream Shop.

Julia Reyes, Biloxi

Julia is a visual artist and creative entrepreneur dedicated to bringing a unique art experience to the Gulf Coast. She exhibits her work extensively at major galleries and museums across the region. Julia’s montage of elements depicting coastal life and art will be painted on the side of Mardi Gras designer Carter Church’s former studio at 405 Blaize Avenue, the new home of The Arts, Hancock County.

Andrew Switzer, Gulfport

Andrew works in abstract portraits with a graffiti and punk rock influence. His murals are featured in Ruth’s Roots and other locations across the Gulf Coast. Andrew’s mural featuring the word LOVE in American Sign Language will be placed on the side of Magnolia Antiques.

Mural by Andrew in the works on the side of Magnolia Antiques

In addition to the large-scale murals, city-owned utility boxes and trash receptacles will also be painted.

This project was made possible by a Community Impact Grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Additional support has been provided by The Hancock County Board of Supervisors, members of the Bay St. Louis City Council, and local citizens.

The front and side of a utility box on the grounds of the historic depot.

This is an outdoor event, and all COVID-19 best practices and guidelines from the Mississippi Department of Health and CDC will be followed.

A complete schedule and festival information is available online at http://www.hancockarts.org/wall. Hashtag for the event is #walltowallbsl. Supporters can follow all the action on Facebook and Instagram.