January 16, 2016
Have you seen all that gorgeous art around town, adorning walls on the sides of buildings and bringing more beauty to urban Gainesville?
Well, you can thank Iryna Kanishcheva for creating 352walls, a project dedicated to expanding urban art in and around downtown Gainesville. Kanishcheva’s background was not in art. In fact, she studied business and pharmaceutical sciences in the Ukraine, however her travels through Europe cementer the foundation of her love for urban street art, particularly large-scale murals.
In an effort to share her passion her new city (she moved to Gainesville from the Ukraine three years ago), she created 352walls.
The contributing artists came from cities all over the world and each brought a different style and perspective. Artist traveled from US locales including Miami and Baltimore, but also from countries across the globe, including Ukraine, Spain, Puerto Rico and Argentina, among others. Kanishcheva personally met each of the artist while she was traveling, and has now brought them all together for one project.
The cultural affairs manager for the Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department has said that the murals have have already helped to further the department’s plan to make Gainesville a cultural destination.
The muralists arrive in Gainesville with very little planning of what they are going to paint, allowing the process to be very organic and inspired by the city. As well as Gainesville inspiring the artists, the artists in turn bring their own ideas and culture to the city during their stay. The artists typically create their work in only a few days, and the evolution of the art is impressive.
Since November, nine international muralists have traveled to Gainesville to create their art, as well as 13 local artists.
For more information on this fascinating and passion-driven project that continues to elevate Gainesville, check out the website at www.352walls.org.
