Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation and the White Springs Historic Preservation Society (WSHPS) have begun a collaboration with a Florida muralist who will be painting three landmarks in the town. The WSHPS has announced that the murals will be painted at three locations in White Springs: Suwannee Hardware & Feed, Buds and Suds Laundromat and the old White Springs Fire Department on U.S. Highway 41. The funding for the project was provided by a grant through the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, as well as support from the Hamilton County Tourism Development Board. The artist, Orlando resident Christian Stanley, is well renowned for his stellar murals throughout the Florida Wildlife Corridor and elsewhere. He is also known for his street art, illustrations and canvas art. Stanley recently completed a project in Ocala, covering the city’s water tanks with stunning visuals depicting a number of native plants and animals that reside within the Ocala National Forest, which is part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. “White Springs was selected for this mural campaign because of its proximity to irreplaceable gaps in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, an area that is both urgent and vulnerable to development,” said Mallory Dimmitt, CEO of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. “As a designated trail town, White Springs holds a unique role in creating a sense of place for the community and for hikers who enjoy this special part of Florida. This mural is not only a celebration of the Corridor’s natural beauty but also a symbol of the connection between conservation and the people who call this area home.” The Suwannee Hardware & Feed mural, which will be painted on aluminum panels to protect the integrity of the building, will be dedicated with a ribbon cutting on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 3:30 p.m. The ribbon cutting will be part of the Florida Trail FEST festivities, as Florida Trail hikers trek from Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park to the hardware store. Between Monday, Feb. 10, and Friday, Feb. 21, Stanley will be painting the murals at the old fire station and Buds and Suds. The WSHPS invites the community to come out and watch Stanley as he performs his work on the murals, which will celebrate the local wildlife, plants, birds and fish. On Saturday, Feb. 15, a group of youths will paint a section of the mural. The WSHPS invites other kids and young at heart to create chalk sidewalk art. “The murals are going to bring an aspect of public art and draw people from other parts,” Julie Gay with the WSHPS and co-chair of the Hamilton County Tourist Development Council said. “Murals have been proven to bring tourism and diversity to communities.” For more information about the project and the WSHPS, contact Sharon Shea at (904) 534-4417 or visit www.historicwhitesprings.com. To learn more about Stanley’s work, visit www.cstanleycreative.com.