Anyone who tours the streets and greenspaces of downtown Brooksville is bound to behold a series of murals that capture the history, spirit and natural beauty that defines this community. This is the original artwork featured in the sixth round of Brooksville Main Street’s Mobile Mural Program, known as “Grown in Brooksville.” This theme focuses on the rural community, with artist renditions of this theme encompassing animals, agriculture, gardening, or the people and families behind it all – past and present. Now, you have the opportunity to personally own one of these precious, one-of-a-kind works of art, all the while supporting the efforts of those who create them.
The Brooksville Main Street Mobile Mural series, made possible through the sponsorship of Culture Builds Florida, the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs, is a longstanding public art project presented at a number of public events and exhibited in the common areas in the Brooksville community. This project has been bringing beauty and character to the city.
The public is at this time invited to bid on a Mobile Mural from the Spring Mobile Mural Series, via an exciting and convenient online auction! They can choose from 21 murals, with bids starting at just $100.
“The theme for this round of mobile murals is ‘Grown in Brooksville’ so expect lots of glorious oak trees, sunflowers, and farm animals,” explained Jessica Knutila, Mobile Mural coordinator for Brooksville Main Street, when asked earlier this year about the most recent mobile mural theme.
Murals are available in vertical and horizontal options: sizes 5′ x 7′, 10′ x 12′ and 5′ x 15′; 100% of the money raised from the auction goes directly back to Brooksville Main Street and their efforts toward public art. “We pay the artists to paint these murals,” said Natalie Kahler, executive director of Brooksville Main Street. “All monies collected will go to pay the next round of mural artists.”
In Kahler’s view, everything that these artists create will amount to something beautiful and exquisite. She stated, “You can have an original, large work of art in your home, to brighten and energize your space as you support local art and it’s affordable art.”
These murals also serve as a vibrant pictorial history of Brooksville, depicting everything from classic downtown buildings to sprawling farmlands. They show images of historical Broad Street, of vividly painted sunflowers and magnolias, of traditional farm equipment and even a cow or two.
Through the mural online auction, these artistic masterworks become accessible to all. “People can bid while in their pajamas!” Kahler said with a chuckle. “We have people bidding from around the country.”
“It is always a sad day when we have to take down the latest round of mobile murals,” continued Kahler. “It’s like taking down the Christmas decorations. But we love knowing that the art will find a home, in homes.”
The auction is live until May 21st; visit and bid at https://tinyurl.com/4dbwtkhx