New Smyrna Beach (NSB) is enhancing itβs art culture around town. Murals, artwork painted directly on a wall, are making the city more colorful. The murals are located in community hotspots along Flagler Avenue and in historic downtown on Canal Street. Volusia County also commissioned an artist to create a mural within popular Smyrna Dunes Park.
In May, The Hub on Canal, an artistsβ incubator located on Canal Street, created a community event, Project Magnolia. The event on May 18 invited locals and visitors to βadd your paint strokesβ to the mural in progress on The Hubβs exterior wall facing Magnolia Street. The event brought all ages in the community together.
Local and Hub artist, Steve Hardock, is painting the new attraction. Photos on The Hubβs Instagram account show the mural includes local marine life like a happy dolphin, relaxed sea turtle and a grinning shark splashing through the wall. The project is still a work in progress and there is no projected finish date at this time.
A new small business, The Florida Local, encouraged the community to be a part of their new mural located at 202 Julia Street in historic downtown. The mural was completed by local artist/illustrator and The Florida Local co-owner, Chelsea Preston, also known as Jelly Press. The brightly colored mural features an iconic beach scene complete with surfboards, palm trees and the Flagler Avenue beach approach.
According to FloridaLocalMarket.com, the website for the new business, people could purchase a painted brick and become βa little piece of historyβ by customizing with their family name, wedding anniversary, etc. The bricks were advertised as fifty dollars and have since sold out.
Volusia County recently posted a video to the Facebook page, Volusia County Community Information, featuring the new mural that was just completed on the walls at the pavillion in Smyrna Dunes Park. The artist, Sandra Koop, painted a 36-foot mural highlighting the natural scenery and wildlife found within the park.
In an interview, Koop says, βI wanted to include as many elements as possible, but still have a good design.β The mural is a beach scene with a couple walking their dog towards the lighthouse.
In the water scene of the painting, a tiger shark is swimming along with a green sea turtle, stingray and a bottlenose dolphin is jumping out of the water. Sea gulls, flying pelicans and a loggerhead turtle are also a part of the scene.
Other outstanding murals around NSB are along Flagler Avenue at the following locations: Clancyβs Cantina, Wildside Beachwear and The Crowβs Nest. Murals help promote local talent and engage the community. Locals and visitors can visit these βInstagram worthyβ spots and showcase how unique NSB can be.