ST. PETERSBURG - The Sunshine City boasts an eclectic art scene. But residents no longer have to visit popular downtown spots like the Dalí Museum or the Museum of Fine Arts to appreciate visual masterpieces. With more than 500 public murals, St. Pete has become an explosion of spray paint.
Street art wasn’t always appreciated. It was often associated with graffiti, which is illegal, whereas murals are commissioned with owners’ approval. In fact, the 21st century mural movement is an outgrowth of and response to graffiti.
“Taggers almost never would tag a mural artist’s work,” said John Collins, the former executive director of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance.
These days, there hardly seems to be a bare brick around Central Avenue.
St. Pete’s public art renaissance blossomed in the early 2010s. At a time when the city wasn’t as developed and considered relatively affordable, local artists gravitated toward the historic 600 block of Central. It proved to be an ideal spot for up-and-coming creatives.
Most of the buildings on that block were going to be demolished to make way for new development, but former city councilwoman Leslie Curran worked to provide inexpensive studio spaces for creators instead.
“We put artists in there for five years at $5 a square foot,” said Curran.
Read more at www.tampabay.com/life-culture...
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