Enlivening Neighborhoods

Saxon Street was quiet when the painting began.

At 4 a.m. on May 26, artists, volunteers and members of the Council on Cultural Arts (COCA) began hauling paint cans from trunks, passing out brushes and positioning stencils. 

By midday, the streets were alive with curious passersby, kids pitching in and local leaders eager to catch a glimpse of the murals that were beginning to take shape.

Artist Vardyce Gaines. Photo courtesy of Council on Culture & Arts

Three separate murals now decorate intersections in Tallahassee’s Greater Bond neighborhood. One features magnolia blossoms, another holds an encouraging message for children and the third pays homage to Dr. Henry Lewis, a neighborhood native and trailblazer for equality in health care. Each mural was designed and executed by a local muralist: Lindsey Masterson, Franzline Whaley and Vardyce Gaines, respectively.

This project, Asphalt Arts, was completed through a partnership between COCA, the Greater Bond Neighborhood Association, and the City of Tallahassee’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs (PRNA) Department and was funded by a $15,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

“Community leaders, who I didn’t realize knew or cared about the project, were there,” said Sam Joslin, the public art and exhibitions manager for COCA. “Curtis Richardson, one of the city commissioners, showed up every single day. Dr. Lewis came, and we had the director of neighborhood affairs show up. Most importantly, a lot of community members showed up.”

The Asphalt Arts Initiative signals a reinvigoration of Tallahassee’s already notable public arts scene. Public galleries, statues and murals have been hallmarks of COCA’s efforts for years, but recently, murals have taken center stage.

Anyone can visit public galleries like those at City Hall and the Tallahassee International Airport, but murals make art a part of everyday life. They fuse with urban and residential ecosystems, exposing people from all walks of life to the value of creativity and self-expression.

“Since I’ve been here, the interest in murals and mural projects has been very heavy,” Joslin said. “I think Asphalt Arts may have actually sparked an asphalt art project on FSU’s campus.”

Murals have long been a feature of large, metropolitan areas, but in recent years, smaller cities have embraced murals as a means to showcase local culture, beautify urban hardscapes, stimulate economic activity and even promote safety.

A mural resulting from the creative talents of artist Lindsey Masterson suggests a seed bed that may give rise to the next generation of flowers. The cheery artwork is located at a crosswalk on Saxon Street at Linear Park. Photo by Kevin Willis Photography

In March of 2022, Bloomberg Philanthropies released a study that showed an improvement in pedestrian and traffic safety at sites where asphalt art was present. This year, COCA is participating in Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), the most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry to be conducted in the country. The previous iteration of this study, conducted in 2017, showed that the nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $166.3 billion in economic activity, supporting 4.6 million jobs across the United States.

Even with these purported benefits, Joslin noted that public art efforts tend to be concentrated in certain areas while others are often neglected. That is something COCA is working to change.

“I’ve found that the public art seems to really reside in these more affluent locations,” Joslin said. “I feel like that’s part of what we were trying to change, and the Greater Bond community is a great example. We started with our Great Art for Greater Bond initiative. Now we are trying Griffin Heights.”

Following the success of COCA’s initial Asphalt Arts project, Bloomberg Philanthropies reached out to encourage the organization to apply for its next round of grants. Members of the PRNA Department recommended Griffin Heights as the location for a second Asphalt Arts activity.

A mural by Franzline Whaley, at right, presents a study in contrasts at BIG meets THIN. The creation is located at Saxon and Tucker streets and is one of six murals that figure in the first phase of an Asphalt Arts project. Whaley was joined by Holly McPhail. Photo courtesy of Council on Culture & Arts

Inspired by these ongoing efforts, the PRNA Department is also seeking a partnership with COCA to establish mural programs in other areas of Tallahassee.

“For many of the artists in these projects, this is their first big opportunity,” Joslin said. “They’re not these hoity-toity artists who only show in high-end galleries. That’s something that I really like about Tallahassee. I’ve worked in galleries where I just did not appreciate the mission. Nothing ever changed. I like COCA because I feel like our mission is something that I actually care about. This is a place where I can take my passion for public art and run with it.”