PAINTING THE TOWN: GAINESVILLE’S URBAN ART SCENE ON THE MOVE
photo by Iryna Kanishcheva This mural is located at 204 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601.
story by Rebecca Santana Artists have traveled from all over the world to make their mark in downtown Gainesville’s budding street art scene. A stroll downtown is like a walk through an art exhibit with beautiful murals around every corner. But beyond their beauty, each of these murals have their own story, character and purpose. Urban art has a unique ability to speak to communities and bring awareness to important issues. Though this can be a temporary art form, it leaves a lasting impact on the community. The two featured muralists created visual movement but also used their platforms to make a statement. Each of these murals has its own power to be thought provoking and create change. Street art is for everyone. And in this community, anyone can participate in the urban art scene. The 34th Street Wall gives everyone a platform to express themselves. Street art doesn’t discriminate. It’s accessible, and anyone can join the movement of thousands of street artists all over the world, aiming to engage their communities.
30
orange&blue magazine
“I always take my inspiration from the surrounding context from many points of view — natural, architectonical, social, cultural, etc. — and from the original structure my piece is going to interact with.”
