Muralists have started painting buildings on Barrancas Avenue as part of Pensacola Mural Fest. They will complete their murals in time for the Pensacola Mural Fest on Saturday, Nov. 4.
Banks Compton is painting Merchants Paper, located at 1800 Barrancas Avenue, and Eniko Ujj is painting the former Kingfisher building at 1500 Barrancas Avenue. On Friday, Sarah and Andrew McWilson will begin painting Posner Marine at 1710 Barrancas Avenue and Drake Arnold will begin painting the new Pearl and Horn building at 1504 Barrancas Avenue. Then on Monday, Monty Welt will begin working on the interior of the Frank Marston American Legion Post 33 at 1401 West Intendencia Street.
The public is invited to come watch and talk with the artists as they paint their buildings. The McWilsons, known as Hand in Hand Creative, are including guests in their initial doodling starting Friday at 2 p.m.
“We are really excited to see Drake’s work on our new home,” Luba Lazi, owner of Pearl & Horn, said. “We believe art significantly enhances our building and the neighborhood.”
“I loved the process of working with Scott Brown to develop the design for Merchants Paper,” Banks Compton said. “We created something that reflects Scott, his family and the business and hope it brings people joy.”
Mural festivals have become an annual event in many larger cities around the world and attract both talented artists and tourists. Other cities have found that they not only result in beautiful new artwork but also new business and economic development.
The Pensacola Mural Fest will be held from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4. The event will include artist talks, bands inside the American Legion Post, Pensacola Arts Market, food trucks, children’s activities, a sock hop and more.
Learn more at www.pensacolamuralfest.com, and follow the Pensacola Mural Fest on Facebook and Instagram @PensacolaMuralFest.
Sarah and Andrew McWilson are painting a mural at Posner Marine. They’re inviting people to join them Friday. Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. to help with the doodle phase.