Street artists discuss cultural impact of their murals

A panel of four street artists from across the country spoke to a crowd of about 20 people Tuesday at the Civic Media Center, discussing how their murals have changed the fabrics of urban communities.

The event was held to celebrate the launch of the second season of 352walls, a Gainesville street-art program that has turned downtown Gainesville into an urban canvas.

The panel, which featured artists from Baltimore, Atlanta and parts of New Jersey, included Turbado Marabou, who has helped paint murals in Chicago, Gainesville and Russia.

Marabou said the most important part of creating street art is listening to the community that surrounds it.

“You have to be the sociologist,” he said. “You have be the anthropologist.”

During his career, he has been hired by cities to paint murals, some 10 stories tall, that he said beautified the city and instilled a sense of pride in its residents. He said he hopes 352walls, which he has worked for in the past, will do the same for downtown Gainesville.

He told the story of a mural he helped paint in Chicago that depicted a strong woman breaking through walls. It was painted on a facility for victims of domestic violence.

“It became a part of their life,” he said. “That mural gave them some type of inspiration.”

Rachel Sommer, a 22-year-old Gainesville artist, came to hear the panelists speak but said she was interested in learning about how projects like 352walls can end up doing more harm than good.

She said the addition of such massive and eye-catching works of art attract wealthier people to these areas, which can then raise the cost of living and push residents from their communities.

“Street art contributes to that gentrification,” she said.