By Laura Goodwin, Vice President of Learning and Engagement
Walton Arts Center is participating in Northwest Arkansas’ newest festival, the Sprayetteville Street Art Festival. Eight festival murals by 11 artists are planned in and around the entertainment district of downtown Fayetteville on July 6-12th. The event was created by Loudy Bousman & Ranaga Farbiarz, founders of Shaman Art and owners of the American Shaman Kava Bar. A mural map is planned and available on the website: www.sprayettevillestreetart.com. Most murals are within walking or biking distance of downtown.
As an anchor arts organization, Walton Arts Center cherishes its role and history as a catalyst and incubator in Fayetteville’s emerging cultural corridor. We’re thrilled to continue our commitment to public art in partnership with Sprayetteville.
Artist Octavio Logo is creating the Walton Arts Center mural on the North wall of the Grubs building. He began painting on July 2 and will continue through the duration of the festival. His mural is called Harvesting the Winds of Change. The mural will communicate the importance of creativity in solving the challenges the world faces today. He says, “The changes we need for the present and future can only come from creative minds.” He believes that both science and art will be essential tools to change our world and lives.
Octavio’s Mural Begins to Take Shape
The north wall of Grub’s Bar and Grill is a prime mural location, and we’re excited to experience how it will activate the garden space next to it. Since 1992, Walton Arts Center has been charged with managing and maintaining the property that includes Grub’s. We’re confident that Octavio’s transformation of this space will stimulate reflection, inspire enjoyment and renew interest in the cultural corridor.
The mural is inspired by William Kamkwamba, from Malawi. The film William and the Windmill documents the story of William’s commitment to change life in his village by creating a clean energy source from cast-off and repurposed materials. The documentary was Grand Jury Award winner at the 2013 SXSW Festival. There’s also a children’s picture book about William.
Octavio states that, “Harvesting the Winds of Change is saying we can change if we seek creativity and community instead selfishness and mediocrity.”
Thank you, Octavio, for bringing your work to Walton Arts Center and the Sprayetteville Street Art Festival!