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.

“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.”

This captivating piece by Manuel Di Rita, who’s also referred to as Peeta, jumps right off the building. When looking at it, the eye can’t stop moving, and it might make the viewer stop and stare for awhile. Di Rita lives in Venice, Italy, and was invited by Iryna Kanishcheva, the project manager and founder of GNV Urban Art.

Though this decorative piece doesn’t create change, it’s a testament to the adaptability of street art. Di Rita created this piece with the structure in mind. If this piece were on a different building, it might look entirely different. The windows are essential to the structure of the piece, and he used the colors of the building and the sky to create a monotone effect. The viewer might have to move around a bit and look at it from different angles to experience its full effect.

“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,” Di Rita said. Local artist Daniel Vélez-Climent does not shy away from difficult issues. He brings awareness to them. When he painted his mural in 2017, the #MeToo movement was just gaining traction, and he wanted to give an image to the movement. The mural depicts a girl and shows how her experiences have “carved her life.” The #MeToo movement was also a vital part of the design, prompting people to stop and think, maybe even inspiring them to join the movement.

In his eyes, this was one small thing he could do to help women everywhere. Painting the first mural to come out of this movement was a bold statement, but in Vélez-Climent’s eyes, a necessary one. He saw this community needed to know about #MeToo, so he used his platform to empower women and educate people about this injustice.

Street art is an ever evolving medium. And when Di Rita started out with graffiti, everyone told him it wouldn't last. From the beginning, Di Rita knew urban art wasn’t a fad and that it held influence. Since then, he’s painted murals all over the world, leaving his mark on global communities. Vélez-Climent creates mostly social art. His pieces often comment on society’s state and strive to promote social justice. He doesn’t care if it’s uncomfortable or controversial. If he believes in the cause, he’ll use his art to bring awareness to it. Each of his pieces have a purpose and a place within its environment.

“If you do it correctly, it [becomes] part of the community,” he said.

While visually stunning, Vélez-Climent ensures his art is more than just pretty. It makes people think and promotes positive social change. O&B

“[Murals] are huge and their impact is astonishing and exciting,” he said.

Seeing an opportunity to create a positive impact, he painted so the viewer could feel “suspended from normality." It’s a break from the humdrum routine of everyday life. Di Rita hopes its inspiring.

photo by Rebecca Santana

This mural is located at 200 NE 1st St., Gainesville, FL 32601.