19 Eau Gallie murals approved for upcoming Anti-Gravity Project festival

Rick Neale
Florida Today
The Anti-Gravity Project mural festival takes place from Nov. 24-Dec. 3 in Eau Gallie.

MELBOURNE — Artists will fan across Eau Gallie painting 19 eclectic murals during the upcoming Anti-Gravity Project festival — plus, two more colorful murals may be painted directly on the streets.

The Anti-Gravity Project is scheduled from Nov. 24 to Dec. 3, showcasing a lineup of international, national and Space Coast artists.

“This is a true signature event for the Eau Gallie Arts District. Merely for the cost of paint, really, we’ll be making a transformation that draws a lot of attention to Eau Gallie," Derek Gores, EGAD past president, told the Melbourne Historic and Architectural Review Board on Wednesday night.

"Mural programs, when done really well, are proven revitalization tools," Gores said.

London artist Fanakapan will paint this mylar-balloon mural on Next Level Digital Marketing on Montreal Avenue during Eau Gallie's upcoming Anti-Gravity Project mural festival.

Board members unanimously approved an array of artistic murals for the festival. Building walls include:

• The Horn Section, 1408 Highland Ave. 

• Gould Business Center, 587 W. Eau Gallie Blvd.

• The former Rick's Furniture building, 617 W. Eau Gallie Blvd.

• Crossfit Rise Above, 1054 Cypress Ave.

• Dr. Tom Teather's office, 1478 Highland Ave.

• Mathers’ Cake Shop, 1431 Highland Ave.

• Renee Foosaner Education Center, 1520 Highland Ave.

• Next Level Digital Marketing, 540 Montreal Ave.

• The Salty Fox, 602 W. Eau Gallie Blvd.

“About a third of the walls are done by internationally known mural artists. These are people who will help bring a spotlight to Eau Gallie: social media and all that stuff. It’s really exciting for us," Gores told board members.

"Then you mix in those international superstars with the next third, who are local artists that paint together, work together and elevate our quality — all the while, making their own inspired versions of what it’s like to live here and be here," Gores said.

"And then the final third are projects that the public can come get their hands on, and pick up a paint brush and be part of the creativity. Of course, under our guidance to make sure they come out well," he said.

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In addition to the 19 "vertical" murals, Anti-Gravity Project painters may create street murals on the pavement at two sites. One is the intersection of Highland Avenue and St. Clair Street, which could bear the slogan "Life In Full Color."

Then over on Bud Yeager Drive, geometric designs might cover the asphalt between Eau Gallie Square and the Foosaner Art Museum. Gores said this example of "pop-up tactical urbanism" would visually link the museum with the town square.

The Melbourne City Council must approve these street murals because they are located on roadways, said Sandy Ramseth, city planner.

This week, Miami artist Hoxxoh started painting a bold geometric pattern on the Intracoastal Brewing Co. east wall, facing the beer garden. Intracoastal will add an octopus mural for the festival on the former Lazy Dog Saloon building, which the microbrewery bought last year.

Other confirmed artists include Fanakapan (London), Mando Marie (Amsterdam), Hyland Mather (Amsterdam), Matt Gondek (Los Angeles), Michelle Tanguay (Detroit), Danielle Henn (Tallahassee), Christopher Maslow (Melbourne), Ian Soden (Melbourne), Jamie Meagher (Palm Shores), Denise Liberi (Eau Gallie), Jessica Neal (Indian Harbour Beach), Noah Hosburgh (Merritt Island), Ryan Speer (Melbourne), Dove Roslan (Rockledge) and Jean Thomas (Melbourne).

Gores said organizers scheduled the Anti-Gravity Project the week before Art Basel in Miami Beach to help attract out-of-town muralists.

Community volunteers will paint various mural panels at The Horn Section, Gould Business Center and The Salty Fox, under supervision of local artists.

The Anti-Gravity Project will be capped by a Dec. 2 Fusion Fest block party from noon to 10 p.m., featuring music, food trucks and interactive games. 

Gores said reaction to Shark Toof's 2015 eye-catching shark mural on the old Dr. Joe's Intracoastal Lounge building as "an absolute home run for us"

"Still, selfies all day long in front of that mural. And it's because of that little bit of edge. And that little bit of, 'I'm not sure I get it.' Or, 'Is it scary, or is it not?' That little bit of edge is what makes a better mural, honestly," Gores said.

Contact South Brevard Watchdog Reporter Rick Neale at 321-242-3638, rneale@floridatoday.com or follow @RickNeale1 on Twitter.