Urban Art Project Changing Exteriors of Local Businesses

In an effort to integrate public art into the Seminole Heights landscape, the Seminole Heights Urban Art Partners are organizing a colorful movement in the historic central Tampa community.

Urban Art Attack, a plan created by community members and business owners, hopes to revamp the architectural feel of Seminole Heights using aesthetic incentives like wall art on structures around town.

According to the Urban Art Attack website, projects in the works include wall or yard art at local haunts like Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe, Southern Brewing & Winemaking and Reservations Gourmet-to-Go.

The deadline for art submissions is May 14.

We recently talked to Sherry Genovar-Simons, president of the Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association and an organizer of Urban Art Attack, about what the plans entail and how residents can get involved.

Explain the mission of the project. "The mission of the Seminole Heights Urban Art Partners is really as stated in the mission statement. To elaborate we want to continue to make Seminole Heights grow as a "destination," not a place to drive through on your way in or out of town. Our restaurant inventory is growing everyday, but when people come here to eat, we want them to be treated to art also. We are a very eclectic community of out of the box thinkers and art is important to a lot of us. We want to share that."

How the idea came about: "My daughter and I are art photographers. We frequently travel to location to shoot imagery, which is then the basis for art for our clients. We work for one of the largest hospitality art providers in the United States. 

About two years ago, we went to Virginia for a shoot and were in a town called Petersburg. The had a project there called Art Under Foot, which was sidewalk art. It was awesome. They did it because their sidewalks were falling apart and there was no city money to fix them up. It was a grass roots effort. When I came home, I went to talk to Melissa Deming (owner of Ella's) about it because I knew it was right down her alley, and we needed to figure out if we could do it.

Fast forward to this past Christmas. My daughter and I did a road trip. We saw a ton of public art in small towns and big cities. We were excited by seeing the variety and the creativity. This all started my thinking about all the projects our area has participated in, and while we actively participated in all of them and would continue to, they were long range and we need to change things now.  I just kept thinking about the "grassroots" approach to community art. Seminole Heights is a pretty active community and I think if anyplace could do it, we could. So when we got back I once again went to talk to Melissa, and we put it together. We invited Southern Brewing, Reservations, Sabrosos and The Taco Bus to join in."

On how the public can get involved: "This is not a short term project, but intended to go on for years and encompass not just wall art, but all forms of art, including interactive with the community. Presently, we are compiling contact information on anyone who wants to help.  We have Participating Partners who are people who want to physically help either by being on a committee, working on a project, or volunteering at a fundraiser. We have Supporting Partners who might not have the time to donate, but want to contribute financially. Some people are both."

On the next step for Urban Attack: "Getting the first two projects completed, having a fundraiser and continuing to plan other projects."

For more information, go to www.urbanattack.org.