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In Bradenton, Florida, the Arts Guild of Manatee took a bold step in revitalizing a local neighborhood through the power of art. Hosting their inaugural WonderWall Mural Fest, the guild sought to reintroduce vibrant artwork to the area after a state mandate last year led to the removal of pavement art.
During the event, five murals were brought to life as artists worked their magic in real-time. This colorful transformation spanned both residential and commercial spaces within the Village of the Arts, a lively enclave of galleries, studios, and eateries situated near the heart of downtown Bradenton.
Among the attendees were Cody Edwards and his wife, Bethany, who expressed that the festival sparked a sense of curiosity and exploration. “It’s about envisioning what lies beyond our immediate surroundings and considering the broader wonders of the world,” Cody shared.
The couple found their participation in the WonderWall Mural Fest particularly meaningful, especially in light of the previous year’s state directive that had erased much of the area’s artistic expression. Their presence underscored a community eager to celebrate and reclaim its creative spirit.
The couple said it felt fitting to attend the event following last year’s state-ordered regulation regarding pavement art.
Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue addressed the issue when the state moved to remove the artwork.
“Pavement art is not allowed, and we’re removing everything that’s not compliant with state, federal standards, and that’s the approach that we’re taking,” Perdue said.
The Florida Department of Transportation ordered the removal of street art across the state, calling it a safety hazard.
“I think that it was an expression of freedom. It was an expression of, you know, people who are around here, the area,” Edwards said.
Organizers said the removal of the pavement artwork in Village of the Arts erased a piece of the neighborhood’s story.
“A lot of the local living residents were the ones to create it, and it got taken away,” Alyssa Santiago of the Arts Guild of Manatee, the nonprofit behind the event, said. “So, it was really a story of our history of the journey of the Village of Arts from the past 25 years.”
Santiago added the organization had to rethink how to bring art back to the community.
“I think ultimately it’s just how can we bring the energy that our street art used to bring to the streets back into the village, but in different ways,” Santiago explained.
Organizers said the nonprofit’s next event will take place the first weekend of April. The event, called Plein Air, will invite people to visit the Village of the Arts and paint what they see around them.