TAMPA, FL — While Tampa's political candidates were making their final pitches to voters last week, local artist Mishou Sanchez was continuing a playful, unofficial campaign of her own that she's been running since the summer.
Through her tongue-in-cheek "Mishou for Mayor" campaign, she's been using the look and language of political campaigns to get people thinking about what a more colorful, creative, and welcoming Tampa could look like.
There's just one catch: Sanchez isn't actually running for office, and Tampa's mayoral seat wasn't on the Nov. 3 ballot. (The city of Tampa municipal elections, including a real race for mayor, are scheduled for March 2.)
"I think of it as a civic imagination lab," she told Patch. "To get creative things out there, but to get people talking about stuff."
On her website, Sanchez describes the effort as "a civic art campaign, a public provocation and a love letter to Tampa."
"I've been to a lot of cities, and I love it here," she said.
Her campaign makes the case that things like public art, shade, neighborhood character, small businesses and inviting public spaces aren't just nice to have; they're part of what makes a city a place people want to live, especially as Tampa grows.
"We're not a small town anymore. We're becoming a metropolis, really," Sanchez said.
The whimsical campaign is a natural extension of her own work. The Tampa-born multidisciplinary artist and architectural designer has spent more than 25 years working across art, architecture, fabrication and design. Her projects range from colorful public art installations to immersive environments and architectural concepts.
Inspired by her love for Tampa, Sanchez sees opportunities to build on the city's growth and the public spaces it has already created.
She points to the Riverwalk as an example of something that has helped transform core parts of the city, while imagining how public art and other creative touches could make it even more engaging.
"I think that we could take it a further mile with our public art," she said. "I think what Tampa has already done is amazing. I think Riverwalk is fantastic, but I'd like to put a little sprinkle on all the awesomeness that they've already done."
Sanchez would also love to see more character, color and whimsy in downtown Tampa.
"I think you got to create interesting things for people to do for them to want to move into a downtown," she said.
The campaign has also given her a way to share ideas, connect with others who call the city home and enjoy the creative process of city planning without getting too attached to what happens next.
"Why not put it out there and just see where it goes?" Sanchez said.
At the end of the day, she hopes to inspire Tampa's leaders, decision makers and property owners.
"I've had fun working on all of this, and while I've been working on it and posting ideas and sharing them, I've gotten to talk to a lot of cool people. It's fun getting people to imagine what's possible," she said.
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