Florida banned street art. Bradenton responds with a colorful new festival

When Florida officials banned all public street and sidewalk art last year, it came as a blow to Bradenton’s Village of the Arts — a place where creativity and colorful expression are a way of life.

At the time, village residents like Gene Tenery felt as though the art removal “eradicated years of what people put their heart into,” he told the Bradenton Herald.

But with the help of a new festival, village artists plan to paint back some of the color that was washed away.

The village will host its first WonderWall Mural Fest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday, March 7, where artists will decorate buildings throughout the neighborhood with larger-than-life scenes.

The festival is hosted by the Artists Guild of Manatee Inc., with support from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County and the City of Bradenton’s Community Redevelopment Agency.

Organizers say it will bring “a bold, day-long celebration of live mural art, music, and community connection.”

Here’s what to know.

Bradenton festival adds fresh art after state removal

The festival comes less than a year after the Florida Department of Transportation, under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, ordered the removal of all street and sidewalk art.

During a wave of art removals across the state, municipalities were faced with the penalty of losing out on significant state funding if they did not comply.

FDOT’s memo, sent on June 30, ordered that any pavement markings found not in compliance with the state’s color and shape regulations be removed. The agency said the decision was in the interest of public safety and reducing distractions while driving.

But critics slammed the move as an attack on freedom of speech and home rule.

Art removal ‘lit the fuse’ for mural festival, organizers say

Now, the village will create new public artwork in the area through the WonderWall Mural Fest, a project born in direct response to the state’s art removal.

David Shiplett, the president of the Artists Guild of Manatee Inc., said Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown paid him a visit shortly after the sidewalk and street art was removed, and started “pointing out things you can paint,” even under FDOT’s new restrictions.

“When something happens that seems like it’s so devastating and colossally horrible … there is a big opportunity,” Shiplett told the Bradenton Herald. “Without that, we wouldn’t be here.”

“Taking away that art is what lit the fuse to get all this done,” Shiplett added.

Bill Webster, a previous Artists Guild board member who is soon rejoining the board, told the Bradenton Herald that he believes the removal of the sidewalk and street art caused an increase in admiration for the area’s artistic history and culture.

“The removal of the sidewalk art was a tremendous wake-up call for a lot of people who had taken it for granted and didn’t realize how much they appreciated the eclectic art on the sidewalks,” Webster said. “It really created an awareness and a desire to … do something more.”

Festival’s message? ‘Stronger together,’ artists say

Another board member on the Artists Guild, Teri Nattress, echoed a similar sentiment, calling the removal of the sidewalk and street art “a gift.”

Nattress says the festival is not particularly a response to government officials regarding the art removal, but instead a message to Bradenton residents.

“I think it’s easy to assume … that we’re sending a message to the local government or even the government in general, and that’s actually not the case,” Nattress said. “Our message is that we’re stronger together and we can move forward together. The message is really to ourselves and to our own community.”

Shiplett says that although he personally believes FDOT’s art removal order was politically motivated, the event has no political agenda.

“It allows us to be so big because anyone can come to our table, whether you believe that the art should’ve gone or not,” Shiplett said.

Bryan Moore, vice president of the Artists Guild, said a spirit of collaboration made the festival a reality.

“It’s collaborating with the city of Bradenton, with local businesses, and partnering them with artists,” Moore said. “Out of that, that’s when we really yield the best results.”

What will mural artists paint in Bradenton?

The festival will give visitors a glimpse into the “artists studio” as they paint the murals in public.

“Our main goal is public art that the community can enjoy for years to come,” Nattress said. “Our second goal is to be there for our community.”

As the artists are given no mandatory topic to adhere to during their painting, there will be a wide variety of themes present in the new murals. Nattress says there is sure to be something that speaks to each individual.

There will be five permanent murals, in addition to four temporary murals on reinforced plywood, painted throughout the village.

The Federal Market, on the corner of Ninth Street West and 13th Avenue West, will have its current mural replaced.

“With the support and outreach of the Boys & Girls Club of Manatee County, this new mural will reflect the spirit and future of our creative community,” according to the Artists Guild.

Other mural sites include Bits & Pieces, on the corner of 13th Street West and 13th Avenue West, and Embodied Health at 1102 12th St. W. Two simultaneous murals will be painted at Jerk Dog Records, 1119 12th St. W., and one two-story mural is planned for a residence at 11th Street West and 13th Avenue West.

“When these murals are all done, they’re so clearly for everyone,” Nattress told the Bradenton Herald. “The array of (these murals) represent so much of everything, and that’s the beauty of it.”

Nattress says she hopes people feel the “magic” of the art as they walk around the village during and after the festival.

Mural festival includes live music, food and more

The free, family-friendly festival will allow visitors to watch artists work through their creative process as murals come to life in real-time, according to Nattress.

In addition to the live art displays, there will be various reggae bands, and the festival will also feature beer donated by the Flamingo Bay Brewing Company. Nonprofits will also host booths.

Visitors are encouraged to stop for a bite to eat from the Birdrock Taco Shack, Arte Caffe, Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, Adobe Kava and The Village Patio.

According to Webster, even the organizers don’t have complete knowledge of what other happenings will “pop up” at the festival, as businesses and private residences in the village can host their own activities as well.

Moore says that this mural festival is expected to become an annual tradition, “so there’s always going to be a reason to come back and see what’s new in the Village of the Arts.”

Shiplett says he is excited for art to once again be prevalent and widespread throughout the village, restoring an imperative part of the area’s culture.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to be given this Village of the Arts, this place where … we represent the arts in Bradenton, and we take that seriously,” Shiplett said.

WonderWall Mural Fest hours and info

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 7.

Admission: Free.

Location: Village of the Arts, 1227 12th St. W., Bradenton.

Parking: Street parking available in the village; additional free weekend parking available at the Judicial Center Parking Garage, 615 12th St. W., Bradenton; Manatee County Administration Building, 414 10th St. W., Bradenton and City Centre Parking Garage on Third Avenue West.

More info: Facebook.com/VillageOfTheArts.