Mural “Love” created in 2014 by artist Cey Adams on a building facade in North Omaha, Nebraska. Photo courtesy of Cey Adams.
Jackson Young Professionals (JxnYP) has announced the creation of a week-long mural festival, “Bright Walls” to be presented in Downtown Jackson and hosted by JxnYP. This free event will run from October 3-10, and welcomes 10 mural artists from around the world to help create a new reason to visit Downtown Jackson. Several buildings have been identified in a small area in the neighborhood of Pearl and Jackson Streets. The building owners have agreed to have their buildings serve as canvases for the project. The $100,000 project is being funded by sponsorships and donations secured by JxnYP.
“We wanted to make a meaningful contribution to Downtown Jackson and leave a legacy of the excitement we feel for the community. Inspired by Murals in the Market in Detroit, we are on a mission to create a similar event in our city,” says Clay McAndrews, Marketing Committee Chair of JxnYP. “We partnered with Jeremiah Britton, a mural artist and Jackson native who now lives in New York, to help bring this project to life. High quality artists that have participated in Murals in the Market or similar mural festivals were selected because they have experience with fast-paced, high visibility events.”
The City of Jackson has long held an emphasis on public art, and Bright Walls looks to continue this effort of making the city an artistic destination. “The City of Jackson is excited to partner with the Jackson Young Professionals on the Bright Walls Mural Festival. This is a well thought out project that will not only add more public art to Downtown Jackson, but the large-scale murals created will become an attraction that will encourage more people to visit downtown. The accompanying festival of events will also provide the chance for the community to be a part of this project.” states Patrick Burtch, Jackson City Manager.
JxnYP hopes to engage the Jackson community with family-friendly programming and festivities planned throughout the duration of Bright Walls. The community can enjoy seeing the artists paint Downtown from October 3-10, as well as a new event each day. During Bright Walls, attendees can expect Art Education Day, Kid’s Day, Local Artist Day, Mural Interaction Day, and more.
A highlight of the festival will be a concert by Your Generation. Your Generation in Concert is a live multimedia spectacular celebrating 5 decades of pop, rock, dance and R&B hits. This 8-piece band has been described as the world’s finest tribute show.
Approximately 12 buildings have been selected for the mural project and include P&T Fitness, Grand River Brewery, Jackson Antique Mall and Kelly Imports.
Six of the twelve artists who are confirmed and announced are Ouizi, Cey Adams, Adele Renault, Noségo, Adam Lucas and I am Eelco. The remaining artists will be announced, one per week, on the Bright Walls website and social media.
For more information, visit BrightWallsJackson.com or follow Bright Walls on Facebook, (@BrightWallsJackson) Instagram, (@Bright_Walls) and Twitter (@Bright_Walls).