Greater Jackson Public Art Tour

by Acacia Clark

Whether you’re new to the metro or are looking for something to do, the Jackson area features a number of vibrant public artworks you can soak in at your leisure.

FONDREN

1. Birdhouse Gardens

Located on Avondale Drive in Jackson, this private residence sports dozens of unique birdhouses in the owners’ front yard and garden.

2. “Mr. Fondren”

Richard McKey, owner of Fondren Art Gallery & Framing, created the sculpture and placed it in front of his State Street gallery to welcome guests inside.

3. The Bean Alley Murals

Located in the alleyway next to The Bean, a local coffee shop, this collection features four murals. From left to right, the artworks depict Scott Allen (the manwith the large hand); Justin Schultz (the girl with the bear); Erica Flannes (the girl with the flowing hair); and Scott Sorenson (the person with the pipe).

4. Scott Allen Murals

Found on Morgan Place behind Corner Market, the murals showcase the stylings of Fondren artist Scott Allen, who has also painted other artworks in the area.

5. Frances Fortner Mural

Located on the side of Fondren Corner, across from Green Ghost Tacos, this mural honors Jackson Academy senior Frances Fortner, who was tragically killed in May 2018. She was on her way to graduation rehearsal when her car flipped after hitting a partially covered manhole on Ridgewood Road. After being rushed to the hospital, she succumbed to her injuries and passed away. The mural’s inspiration came from a self-portrait of Fortner.

6. Go Get Em Tiger FONDREN Mural

Scott Allen of APlus Signs and Creative painted this mural behind the Fondren District’s location for Cups, a popular coffee shop with multiple additional locations in the area.

MIDTOWN/FARISH

7. Midtown Sculpture Walk

In midtown Jackson and the Farish Street area you can trek along the Midtown Sculpture Walk, which showcases art from multiple artists, including Gwendolyn Kerney’s “Turtle Down Totem” on McTyere Avenue; Suzy Hendrix’s “Throne Rocco Nouveau,” a glass mosaic throne on concrete and fiberglass also on McTyere Avenue; Jeff Brewer’s “Zorro,” an orange fox sculpture on Millsaps Avenue; and Clifton Cox’s “Boundless Voyage,” a stainless steel sculpture found on Wesley Avenue and Wightman Street.

8. The Slab Wildlife Murals

The local skatepark community created the space called The Slab, also known as DIY Mill Street or Frank Melton Memorial Skatepark, in 2015. Artist Gavin Birdd painted many of the murals, with artist Stephen Little painting the owl mural, which can be found on Mill Street.

9. Farish Quilt

Artist Linda Troubaugh designed the installation in 1986, the artwork unveiling at the Farish Street Park’s opening. The plaque includes text from Margaret Walker’s poem, “A Patchwork Quilt,” which heavily inspired the artwork. Located on West Hamilton Street, this instillation has since won a competition the Arts Alliance of Jackson/Hinds County sponsored.

DOWNTOWN

10. Storytellers

These three statues found on East Capitol Street depict three of Mississippi’s most regarded storytellers: Eudora Welty, William Faulkner and Richard Wright.

11. Painted Signal Boxes

Throughout downtown Jackson, pedestrians can spot a number of signal boxes that various local artists have painted, with support from the Greater Jackson Arts Council, each telling a different story. See if you can find them all one weekend.

12. Big K.R.I.T. Mural

Michael Roy, also known as Birdcap, painted this mural upon commission from Mississippi native and three-time BET Hip Hop Award nominee Big K.R.I.T.’s label, MULTI Alumni, as part of the work the label underwent to promote Big K.R.I.T.’s fourth studio album, “K.R.I.T. Iz Here.” The murals came equipped with a QR code that allowed fans to take photos with the murals to enter a contest for a chance to win a trip to the recording artist’s debut listening party. The mural is off Pascagoula Street in downtown Jackson, behind the Mississippi Museum of Art.

13. Welcome to Jackson Mural

Downtown Jackson Partners funded the mural that faces one of downtown Jackson’s most traveled entry points along Pearl and State streets. Scott Allen painted the mural, which Jacksonians continually use as a backdrop for their own photos, from selfies to album covers.