Pumphouse Community Art Walls

One of my proudest professional achievements has been the activation of a decommissioned water department pumphouse on Poplar Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This project has been made possible because of the City of Fayetteville’s dedication to public art, and I am so grateful to them for allowing me to be the steward of this project.

When I interviewed to serve on the Fayetteville Arts Council in 2019, one goals was the need for spaces where artists could practice public art skills without fear of legal issues. I have had the privilege of learning to paint murals because I first started as a commercial sign painter, picking up skills along the way, and painting larger and larger projects over the years. Most artists don’t have that kind of privilege and access, and that isn’t right. There’s also the issue of gatekeeping the public art game, folks don’t always share their skills or resources. We have desperately needed a free and legal space where artists can practice without worry. After I became Chairperson of the Fayetteville Arts Council I continued to push for this, however, we didn’t have the staff or infrastructure to bring this project to fruition until November of 2023.

The building was primed, my team and I painted a wild “ Imagine the Possibilites” on the Poplar Street side of the building, Jeremy Navarette (NVEST) put up an incredible piece on the east side of the building, and the other two sides were painted on the kick off day by community members. It was incredible. Since that day, the building as been used exactly as intended. Artists have treated it as a living canvas, putting up new, beautiful, clever work every few days. It’s the delight of midtown Fayetteville, and a testament to what can happen when we trust the art community to curate and care for a public art space.