Tallahassee recently introduced 21 new public artists to the community.

Between them, they created five murals for display in Art Alley, the pedestrian thoroughfare that connects Gaines and St. Francis Streets. Though our city boasts more than 200 pieces of public artwork, many of them created by regionally, nationally, and internationally renowned artists, these most recent acquisitions were authored by a cohort of exciting emerging artists, all from Griffin Middle School.

Led by Nikki Nicolas, Griffin’s art teacher, these students spent months collaborating on the design and execution of the 3’ x 3’ panels. Nicolas explained that she envisioned the project to “show them, from start to finish, the process of creation. It allowed them to see that if you’re confident in something and you see it through to the end, it can be an inspiration to other people, regardless of whether you’re a professional or an eighth-grader.”

Nicolas coordinated the installation of the five murals as well as a special field trip that featured a public art walk led by the Council on Culture & Arts.

After touring the All Saints district, the students came to Art Alley, where they viewed their own artworks displayed in a public setting.

Eighth-grader Ashanti Miller was bubbling over about the experience and her contribution. “It feels great to be a public artist. Every time people pass by, they’re going to see me and my friends’

artwork.” Nicolas challenged her students to create works with positive and uplifting themes. Ashanti and her creative team designed a mural centered on a tree of life surrounded by the mantra live, laugh, love. “I can’t stand people being sad so I wanted to make something that would make everybody smile. 

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