SHINE Festival Teams Up With NOAA To Create Ocean-Themed Murals

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Five days into the 2019 SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival, artists are nearing completion of their larger-than-life masterpieces on buildings and walls throughout downtown St. Petersburg.

This year's murals include two ocean conservation-themed works funded by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association, the first public art project for the federal agency.

SHINE teamed up with PangeaSeed Foundation to produce the two murals for the project titled: Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans.

“Without healthy oceans, life on land is impossible. Ocean stewardship is important everywhere in the world and especially within coastal communities like St. Petersburg. The PangeaSeed Foundation family is proud to partner with SHINE and NOAA to help bring our unique brand of ARTivism for oceans to this community,” said Tre’ Packard, founder and executive director of the PangeaSeed Foundation, dedicated to bringing together culture and environmentalism to conserve the world's oceans.

SHINE brought in Portland artists Blaine Fontana and Plastic Birdie to paint one of the Sea Walls murals at Bama Sea Products along the Pinellas Trail. This will be the largest SHINE mural for 2019 SHINE Festival. The Vitale Brothers are painting the second ocean-themed mural at Techno-Solis, 301 20th St. S.

After researching and taking an excursion to local fisheries, the Sea Walls artists are highlighting the importance of the local fishing communities and preserving the ocean’s delicate ecosystem.

“St. Petersburg is both a city of the arts and a city of innovative sciences, making it the perfect location for a merger of these disciplines,” said Jeff Pulver, fishery biologist with NOAA. “Most people aren’t aware of the ocean science, management and the communities that rely on the healthy ocean ecosystems. NOAA is a proud part of the fishing and ocean community here, and we celebrate its rich heritage.”

As part of SHINE’s partnership with PangeaSeed Foundation, a panel discussion will be held during the finale event at The Factory St. Pete, 2788 Fairfield Ave. S., Saturday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. Moderated by Packard and featuring Blaine Fontana, Johnny Vitale, Jeff Pulver, Catherine Bruger with the Ocean Conservancy and Thomas Paterek with the Suncoast Surfrider Foundation, the panel will discuss the intersection of art, science and advocacy. The grand finale will take place from 2 p.m. to sunset.

Running Oct. 18-26, SHINE is an art project of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance to revitalize St. Pete with mural art that reflects the city's creative spirit. During the week, artists are creating 16 murals around the city. Click here for a map of mural locations.

Also on tap is:

• Drink & Draw with Morning Breath at Green Bench Brewing Co., 1133 Baum Ave N, St. Petersburg, Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. Talk with the artists about their craft while drawing and drinking brews for $1 off.
• The Suncoast Surfrider Foundation will host a beach cleanup along North Shore Beach Park, 901 N. Shore Drive N.E., St. Pete, Saturday, Oct. 26 at 8 a.m. Meet at the Vinoy Park Beach volleyball courts.
• SHINE bike tours with Coast Bikes and Florida CraftArt Saturday, Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• The fifth annual Bike Scavenger Hunt Saturday, Oct. 26 from 2 to 7 p.m. There will be awards for shiniest costume, best team name, best pair performance and speediest. The cost is $33. Register here.