Odessa Arts’ MuralFest, presented by United Supermarkets & Market Street, is pleased to announce the selected artists and entertainment for the May 13th event.
“152 artists applied for the mural commissions,” Odessa Arts executive director Randy Ham said in a press release. “We selected 4 of the best. We are so excited to bring their talents to Odessa.”
Selected muralists include: Nekoda Witsken, Dan Thompson, Maxilie Martel, and Jeremy Flores. Muralists were encouraged to create designs that celebrate Odessa’s designation as a Music Friendly Community by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022. Mural locations and designs will be revealed when the muralists begin work the week of May 7. Murals have been sponsored by Eofficial Enterprises.
As well as the four new murals, seventeen additional artists will be installing designs on twelve traffic boxes and five donated pianos in the downtown Odessa footprint.
“Downtown Odessa, Inc. has been an amazing partner throughout the planning process. Not only have they taken on the logistics of the permits, permissions, security, street closures, and so much more, they also helped to fund the wrapping of the remaining traffic boxes in the Downtown footprint. Each box wrap was designed by a different local artist and they also reflect the Music Friendly designation,” continued Ham, “It’s one of the things that we’re really proud of with this festival. There will be permanent leave behinds that will last for years, even after the crowds have gone home.”
MuralFest will also include several immersive art experiences and performances. With the support of the FMH Foundation, the Bike Zoo from Austin will offer opportunities for community members to ride on artist designed bicycles that resemble living creatures: butterflies, armadillos, and the first West Texas appearance of the Bike Zoo snake skeleton.
Paradox Traveling Art, an immersive art installation inside a repurposed school bus will open its doors for exploration and activities, courtesy of the Moore Foundation.
A children’s area will offer activities including painting, and other arts based crafts, and is sponsored by the Children’s Miracle Network at Medical Center Hospital.
A silent disco will give dancers the opportunity to move to the groove of three different DJs.
The newly completed Odessa College green space will host a rotating lineup of local talent including musicians, theatricals, dancers, and more.
“We are so excited to be one of the first events in the new green space. We’ve been watching the construction with so much anticipation. We cannot thank OC enough for partnering with us on this event,” said entertainment coordinator Amber Gray.
Forty vendors including food trucks and local artisans will line the street from 5-9 p.m. for participants to shop. West Texas native Barry Corbin will hit the stage at 7 p.m. at the Ector Theater with CBS7’s Jay Hendricks to talk about his Hollywood career: from Urban Cowboy to Northern Exposure.
This ticketed event will benefit Meals on Wheels. Tickets can be purchased at tinyurl.com/yc8jeumv
A special Preview Party at Homemade Wines on Friday, May 12, will give patrons early access to many of the MuralFest offerings. Tickets for the preview party are on sale now.
