What was once a graffiti-stained brick wall in downtown Tallahassee has become a giant canvas to celebrate three famous Floridian women. Community appreciation for the “Project Daring” mural took place on Friday, August 27th. The painter Olivia Barattini was the main artist of the creation. Although she wasn’t a really skilled muralist, she said she took the chance when she learned that the Tallahassee Junior League had such a project in mind.
“The theme of the project was ‘Women in Florida’s History’. It was a very open topic and it was up to the artist to develop the content. So we wanted to pick a handful of women – we started with 7 first – and we reduced it to 3. “
The three women in Florida history who made the cut were: writer Zora Neale Hurston; Betty Mae Jumper, the first woman to become chief of the Seminole tribe; and the famous environmentalist Marjorie Harris Carr. Each figure was two stories high. And co-artist Savannah Salinas said the literal enormity of the renderings requires constant scrutiny to keep the proportions and dimensions on track.
“Even in the air, when we’re in the elevator, we have to make sure things are put where we want them, and then they do and go back and look again. I know Olivia is in Photoshop through ours too. We wanted to make sure it all came together the way we wanted it to. “
Not to mention the fact that the weather hasn’t been entirely cooperative over the past few weeks. That messed up the schedule, but the recognition of the Daring Project went as planned. Speakers in the park outside the nearby Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce headquarters included Samantha Sexton Greer, former Junior League president.
“A mural gave us the opportunity to display our values: our diversity, collaboration, community, empowerment, leadership, respect and service, in work and on display.”
Help also came from another former Junior League member, Florida’s Secretary of State Laurel Lee.
“The junior league received a scholarship from the Department of Art and Culture to support this project. And together with the district and the city they were able to work together on it. And we are very proud that public funds are made available,” such an extraordinary use that benefits everyone who lives and works in this community. “
With regard to the city of Tallahassee, Mayor John Dailey had a few words to say
“It’s no secret that we have a thriving arts scene in Tallahassee, and it’s no secret that the city and county are great supporters of public art.”
Art that, as noted Elizabeth Emanuel, chief executive officer of the Downtown Improvement Authority, eradicated some rot.
“This wall was previously destroyed and this was something that could never be properly dismantled, which led many downtown residents to ‘make comments’.”
Some of these could not be repeated on a family radio station. Of course, the project couldn’t have happened without this canvas – or wall – from Lumen Technologies, of which Christie Mason is the director of government affairs.
“We pride ourselves on our building serving as the canvas for the mural that reflects our values. This mural is a great example of the people, passion and history that make our community so great.”
And there’s another amazing piece of community history too. The yellow brick building on which the mural was painted actually contains the 1938 building that was the center of Tallahassee telephone service until the construction of the much larger building next door a few decades later.
The post Downtown Tallahassee Mural welcomes historic Florida women first appeared on Daily Florida Press.
from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/downtown-tallahassee-mural-welcomes-historic-florida-women/
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