Public Mural on North Jackson Street Begins!

Press Release

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Starkville Area Arts Council (SAAC) is excited to announce the latest public art project, in collaboration with the MSU Department of Art and the City of Starkville. This 300 ft. mural, based on the theme "From City Hall to Lee Hall: We're in this Together," will be located along the North Jackson Street retaining wall at the entry point into downtown from Highway 182/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

"We are excited to collaborate and showcase the depth of creative talent at MSU," says Dr. Jenna Altomonte, MSU Professor of Art. "The students working on the project comprise a diverse array of majors, from art and architecture to geoscience and fashion merchandising." Department Head Critz Campbell adds, "The Department of Art is thrilled to be part of this community project. I know the students involved will gain a great deal from the experience and feel that much closer to our great college town.

“This was one of the main goals for me in asking the Board to adopt a Mayor’s Mural program," says Mayor Lynn Spruill. "This wall has long been eyesore when it could be such a wonderful canvas for beauty. I believe this will brighten our community in ways that compliment who we are. The theme is so very timely for us, as we work together to come back from the pandemic and return to our very event-filled town-and-gown partnership. We want the stretch from City Hall to Lee Hall to be attractive and exciting. This will celebrate that.”

"Not only does this mural create a phenomenal entry point into the heart of Starkville, but it also reflects our growing relationship with the MSU Department of Art," says Executive Director John W. Bateman. "This project, originally planned for Spring 2020, was postponed due to the pandemic. Previous murals had already engaged faculty, teachers, and students from both Starkville and MSU, but this one goes a step deeper in building a truly symbiotic town-and-gown relationship."

"This mural represents, both artistically and physically, the great working relationship between our city, our county, and our University," says GSDP President Mike Tagert. "We are at our best when we work together."

"Cultural tourism has long been a driving force in influencing people's travel decisions," says Paige Hunt, Director of Tourism at GSDP. "Public art as a tourism attraction is a growing trend. When people search for 'best art cities,' the first images to appear for a city are of its public art. This mural is a wonderful addition to our already robust array of public art and I know our visitors will make it a must-see destination while in Starkville!"

This mural is sponsored by SAAC, MSU Department of Art, Modern Woodmen - Barbara Coats, ServiceMaster Clean Starkville, and anonymous donors. 

Work will commence in mid-April and may continue into the early summer. For more information on this and other programs, visit www.starkvillearts.net and www.starkvegasart.org.

#starkvillearts #PublicArt #MSU #townandgown #starkvillems ​

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To view the full design, please visit www.starkvegasart.org