HISTORICALLY ST. PETE Rui Farias Previews Visual Voices & Interviews Muralist Derek Donnelly

Welcome to Historically St Pete, a weekly conversation where we explore the truths, and myths of the people and events that created the Sunshine City.  In this episode,  Rui Farias - Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History introduces us to a new exhibit "Visual Voices" as part of the City’s Art Archives. This exhibition brings together historic murals, sculptures, and contemporary installations to explore how public art has influenced local visual culture and created space for a diversity of voices in the city’s art history. In studio with Rui is muralist Derek Donnelly, who created a spectacular mural in the gallery titled “A Burg’s Eye”. Says Farias:  "Public art plays such a huge part in our lives here in St. Petersburg. Whether it’s on the Pier, the side of a bank, on a fire station, or yes, even a street intersection.  From the sculptured gardens of Snell Isle to the vibrant murals of today, public art has long played a vital role in shaping the cultural landscape of St. Petersburg. In our city’s early days, local developers focused on incorporating artistic and architectural features inspired by European cities.  Public art concepts expanded during the Works Progress Administration (WPA) era of the 1930s and 40s. President Roosevelt funded artists to create artistic projects in public spaces. Like the Coast Guard Base at Bayboro Harbor that has a George Snow Hill mural filling the walls of the Officer’s dining room. This legacy carried forward in St. Petersburg with the rise of outdoor murals, early light installations, and the adoption of the Percent for Arts Ordinance.