10 NEW murals in 10 days by 10 artists this May at the ViBe Creative District Mural Festival

(Virginia Beach, VA) April 26, 2018– The ViBe Creative District nonprofit announced today that the public is welcomed to come view the first ViBe Mural Festival presented by TowneBank this May 11-20, 2018. A total of 10 new murals will be painted by 10 different national and local artists at private properties through the arts district next month (featured artists and locations below). The project allows the artists a 10-day time frame to paint their artwork designs to completion providing the public ample time to explore and meet the artists while they work.

The nonprofit published an open call for muralists in March 2018 to select the artists, which will each receive a stipend of $3,000 and materials reimbursement up to $1,000. The two-week open call received 88 submissions from artists in 12 states across the country (12%) as well as 10 different cities in Virginia (82%). Over 300 images were provided to the 10 local businesses and property owners hosting the new murals to help them select their favorite artist, the nonprofit handled all logistics to pair artists with the businesses.

“We are thrilled at the opportunity to share 10 new murals with the City of Virginia Beach’s residents and visitors,” said Kate Pittman, executive director of the ViBe Creative District nonprofit. “The live mural painting by the ten artists throughout the district will become almost performance art as the murals unfold over the course of the ten days. On 17th Street near Baltic, visitors will be able to stand in one place and see five murals being painted all at once.” The other five murals are an easy walk away. All ten murals are within a 1-mile walk. View directions to locations on this google map.

The locations were selected by the ViBe Creative District nonprofit over the last year as the locally owned businesses and property owners expressed interest in participating in a mural project to support the district’s growth. These public artworks will help create a sense of place and arrival within the arts district. Property owners have committed to preserving the murals for a minimum of 2 years and posting a sponsor plaque to recognize the funders.

“1701 is so excited to part of this massive collaboration between the ViBe non-profit, working artists, and creative businesses. ViBe Creative District executive director Kate Pittman has been at the helm of the mural festival project for many months, and we can’t wait to see the final result of her visionary idea this spring.”

TowneBank, which has a location in the ViBe District, is pleased to be the presenting sponsor of the festival, which includes the ten murals and community events inviting the public to meet the artists and celebrate the arts. The new murals will bring the public art count up to 35 murals and creative crosswalks throughout the district.

A complete map of all public art murals and creative crosswalks in the ViBe District is available online (click image below). New mural locations are in RED.

ViBe Mural Festival FEATURED ARTISTS (in alpha order):

ARCY (Connecticut) for Wareings Gym on 19th Street
Lisa Ashinoff (Virginia Beach) for Superior Pawn on 17th Street
Caesar of 1500 Studios (Richmond) for Chesapeake Bay Distillery on 17th Street
Igor (Virginia Beach) for Abacus of Hampton Roads on 18th Street
Jeremiah Kille (California) for 1701 on Baltic Ave
Charles Rasputin of Fang Gang (Norfolk) for Details Interior on 18th Street
Scuba (Virginia Beach) for Hudson’s Luxury/Thumel Property on 17th Street
Tim Skirven (Richmond) for Three Ships Coffee on 19th Street
TALENT Murals (Virginia Beach) for Zero’s Subs on 17th Street
Ed Trask (Richmond) for Davis Ad Agency on Baltic Ave

ViBe Mural Festival PUBLIC PROGRAMMING & EVENTS:

Friday, May 11: Artists arrive to ViBe Creative District and begin painting murals.
A complete guide to public art in the ViBe Creative District including all ten new mural locations is available on line – click here.

May 12 – May 19: Daily Golf Cart Mural Tours – Times TBD
Priority seating provided to persons with disabilities. Limit 5 per tour.

Saturday, May 12: Art in the Park pop-up art & craft show @ ViBe Park

10am-4pm Located on the corner of 18th St and Cypress Avenue. Rain date: 5/13/18

*Second Saturday* Over 2 dozen vendors selling items made or assembled by hand.
Enjoy live music and the opportunity to participate in a public art mural.

Monday, May 14: Coffee Break with Hampton Roads Artists @ Commune on 17th St

10am-11am Come enjoy a cup of coffee and casual conversations with artists Scuba, Igor, TALENT Murals, and Lisa Ashinoff of Virginia Beach and Charles Rasputin of Norfolk, VA.

Tuesday, May 15: Artists’ Happy Hour @ Esoteric on 17th St

5-7pm Public is welcome to meet the mural artists in a casual social setting.
Happy hour specials. Guests encouraged to savor the culinary arts.

Wednesday, May 16: Coffee Break with Richmond Artists @ Three Ships Coffee on 19th St

10am-11am Come enjoy a cup of coffee and casual conversations with artists Tim Skirven, Ed Trask and Caesar of 1500 Studios from Richmond, VA.

Thursday, May 17: Coffee Break with the Visiting Artists @ Badass on Cypress Ave

10am-11am Come enjoy a cup of coffee and casual conversations with artists ARCY of Connecticut and Jeremiah Kille of California.

Thursday, May 17: Artists’ Happy Hour @ Croc’s 19th St Bistro

5-7pm Public is welcome to meet the mural artists in a casual social setting.
Happy hour specials. Guests encouraged to savor the culinary arts.

Friday, May 18: Instagram Challenge: Visit the district during the closing weekend (Friday-Sunday) of the Mural Festival and tag your favorite artist and murals pics with @thevibecreativedistrict and #vibemuralfest

Top 3 images win $100 gift certificates to your favorite ViBe business.

Saturday, May 19: Closing Celebration – Parking Lot Party @ 1701 on Baltic Ave

12-3pm Join the murals artists, event sponsors and ViBe business supporters to celebrate the completion of the ViBe Mural Festival presented by TowneBank. Noon artist Q & A. 1-3pm Parking Lot Party. Five of the ten murals are visible from this location.

Sunday, May 20: Walking Tour of the ViBe Mural Festival presented by TowneBank

11am-1pm Participants can park free at Davis Ad Agency on Baltic Ave and enjoy a guided walking tour of all 10 new murals. Tour ends at Chesapeake Bay Distillery for local spirits tasting.

About the ViBe Creative District
The ViBe Creative District non-profit is a 501c3 that exists to promote, support, connect, and inspire the creative industries to boost our local economy, grow jobs, and enhance our quality of life. It works to create and revive economic vibrancy in our neighborhood with a remarkable local vibe. Additionally, ViBe strives to enhance a place of discovery for locals and visitors along with economic vitality to meet the City of Virginia Beach’s vision for a quality resort destination. For more information on please visit www.ViBeCreativeDistrict.org , email info@ViBeCreativeDistrict.org call 757-202-9533 or follow ViBe Creative District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ViBeCreativeDistrict and Instagram at www.instagram.com/thevibecreativedistrict/

About the Featured Artists

ARCY
I’ve devoted the last 10 years of my life to large scale street art and am proud and honored to be able to bring communities together though my works, and support my family doing so. Each year, I actively reach out to community projects throughout the US and beyond, searching for ways to express my art through beneficial platforms. As an artist, I strive to embody the enthusiasm, patience, and creativity that I display through my large scale mural work. I believe that it is extremely important to ensure that the youth in our communities strive to become whatever they set their minds to. I am interested and skilled in working on diverse projects in communities throughout the world. I strive to construct murals that have meaning and show emphasis on subject matter while captivating public viewers. http://arcyofficial.com/ @arcyart

LISA ASHINOFF
Inspired by both the family home, built during her childhood, as well as her frequent trips to New York, from which her family originates, Lisa Ashinoff found the minimalistic aesthetic of mid century modern design and city landscapes most appealing. Couple that with inspiration from a house on the side of the road, music, architecture, nature, travel and, most importantly, modern art and you have a recipe for innovation. www.lisaashinoff.com/ @lisaashinoff_art

CEASAR
Growing up in Virginia, Caesar is an accomplished Sign Painter and Mural Painter, and an internationally recognized figure in the world of Graffiti and Street Art. In pursuit of this passion, Caesar spent years on the road, seeking out walls and freight trains to adorn with his brand, collaborating with fellow graffiti writers all across the country. Living and painting in places like Nashville, Kansas City, Birmingham, The Carolinas, the gypsy lifestyle began to define his artistic vision. A house painter by trade, spray paint was soon replaced with brushes and rollers, giving his work a unique texture which stands out from the masses. After years of illegally painting his name in every fashion possible, the mastery of letter design led him into the craft of sign painting. In his adopted hometown of Richmond, Va., his work has quietly become a part of the city’s aesthetic.

IGOR
Igor is a Virginia Beach artist with an artist studio located in The Alley on 19th Street in the ViBe Creative District. He is a skilled, professional hand painter with experience restoring antique collectibles, pinstriping cars or motorcycles and painting custom onsite wall or window signage for dozens of local businesses. http://www.igorscustom.com/ @igorscustom

JEREMIAH KILLE
Jeremiah’s work is both inspired by and investigative of finality. Exploring themes of nature and coexistence, he employs a multitude of stylistic approaches which range from loosely abstracted to highly rendered objects. These differing image styles are generally coexisting in a single piece thus creating a juxtaposition of reality and surrealism. He is best known for his narrative work that depicts themes of disenfranchised circus elephants, yet this is only a portion of his already developed, and collected, body of work. Jeremiah Kille is a native of Santa Cruz, CA he began his career as a custom surfboard builder with strong communal ties to surf & skate culture. He would go on to receive a BFA from San Jose State and currently pursues painting at his studio full time. www.jeremiahkille.com @jeremiahkille

CHARLES RASPUTIN
Charles Rasputin is a visual and conceptual artist that creates and develops work for public viewership and cultural consumption. He curates aesthetic appeal, brand culture and emotional investment through visual representations for clients, collaborators and his community at large. His introduction to the world of art and design came thru fashion and screenprinting but his current work explores immersive environments, shadows and light, and the creeping darkness and shining light that dwells within us all. charlesrasputin.com

@orangeboxcutter

SCUBA

Scuba’s work focuses on color interactions within a purely abstract framework. Often utilizing the grid–which he considers the greatest human tool–he explores how colors interact with one another; creating shifts in value or hue; creating depth with flat colors; and the subjectivity of its interpretation. www.scubasteveart.com @scubasteveart

TIM SKIRVEN
My name is Tim Skirven and I’ve been an illustrator, graphic designer, tattooer and general artist for the last 14 years. I’m originally from Virginia Beach, VA and spent my youth working in surf shops and riding a skateboard. These activities ultimately sparked my creative path and now with a BFA in Graphic Design from James Madison University and countless professional projects, my work wanders but ultimately comes back to the ocean, the mountains, natural vibrations from people and plants and the awe that overcomes me when I throw myself into these things. www.timskirven.com

TALENT Murals

Brothers with unique artistic styles and abilities, Todd and Eric Lindbergh are a force in the mural industry. With over twenty years experience conceiving, designing, and executing over one thousand murals, they continue to surprise their clients with exciting and innovative ideas. Creating murals for both public and private enterprises, Todd and Eric pride themselves most on their tribute murals painted for the military, police, and firefighters.

www.muralsbytalent.com

ED TRASK
I present a storyline, using familiar imagery, that conjugates with color, shape , energy, and rhythm, an image that grabs the viewers attention. Flowing compositions create vignettes to elaborate multiple ideas into one mural. I want the viewer to have an inclusive reaction to my mural , i want the viewer to interpret and reflect their own personal storylines into the mural. I use painting to illicit optimism through color, to start a creative conversation , ” Why is this mural here, What is it telling me about the neighborhood, the history of this place, What can i do to make it better?” I make murals and public art with no boundaries. I make murals for all viewers, and could care less about race and socioeconomics . Public art for the people. edtrask.com @edtrask

SAMPLE MURAL CONCEPTS:

Mural concept for Abacus of Hampton Roads facing 17th St by Virginia Beach Artist Igor: (original artwork by American artist Peter Helck used with permission from the Helck Family)