ST.PETE-BASED ARTIST, ELIZABETH BARENIS, USING HER VR HELMET TO DIGITALLY PROJECT HER DESIGN ON THE WALL SO SHE CAN SKETCH IT OUT BY HAND BEFORE FILLING IT IN
The SoDo Main Street District (Website) is transforming some of its most visible corners with large-scale murals and banners this month, a series of projects funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program administered locally by the City of Orlando.
Three artists are behind the first wave of murals. St. Petersburg artist Elizabeth Barenis (Instagram) is creating a large water lily mural on the east-facing façade of a multi-tiered, stepped architectural planter at Orlando Health, which will serve as a gateway artwork for the district.
Orlando muralist Christian Stanley (Instagram), a national award winner, is creating a new piece at the corner of Kaley Avenue and Division Street, adding a new landmark to the evolving Division corridor streetscape, at the former Nassal property.
At 315 W Grant Street [GMap], local artist Tatiana Khalil (Instagram) is already hard at work installing a bold geometric mural outside the studio of Grammy Award-winning producer Ayo.
“These projects represent a meaningful investment in the future of SoDo,” said Misty Heath, executive director of SoDo Main Street District. “Public art is more than beautification; it builds a sense of place, reflects the identity of our community, and makes our district more welcoming for residents, visitors, and businesses alike.”
All of the murals and banner installations are expected to be completed by the end of September, with community events planned to coincide with their unveiling. The CDBG program, one of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s longest-running initiatives, provides resources for projects like public art, neighborhood revitalization, and economic opportunity.
SoDo’s original project scope included the installation of almost 17 new art utility boxes by nine local artists, which were submitted and chosen through a public “Call for Color” during the summer. According to the City of Orlando, FDOT has since pulled its permissions for art utility boxes following an update to its playbook that regulates art within the public right-of-way. As a result, the City of Orlando has paused its utility art box program for the foreseeable future.
“The City remains committed to supporting public art while temporarily pausing new traffic box projects until we have clear guidance from FDOT so that our artists’ work and associated funding is protected.”
– CITY OF ORLANDO
