Feature Story and Photos by Larry H. Oskin
Minneola Artworx recently celebrated its “Murals on the Trail” Field Day with plenty of exciting art, crafts, foods, games, music, live entertainment, workshops and activities at Minneola Trailhead Park. Activities included old-fashioned sack races, adult tricycle races, 4-legged races, obstacle course races and more. Handprints and wall art was included on the Minneola Mural Wall.
The mission of the Murals On The Trail project is to bring the Minneola and South Lake Communities together as well as to beautify the Minneola 27 underpass while reducing the potential for graffiti at this site. Minneola Artworx is a group of local arts advocates whose goal is to create an arts scene that brings our town together and encourages the growth of local businesses in Minneola that is supported and funded by public and private partnerships. This group is still seeking artists of all ages to create family-friendly murals that express the positive spirit of our community.
Submissions for Phase Two are still invited to help decorate the Minneola Trail for walkers, bikers and runners to enjoy. Accepted mural art will win $500 and most of the needed art supplies, once selected. Brushes and ladders need to be supplied by the artists. A total of about twenty wall art murals will be placed on the exterior walls of the Highway 27 overpass on the Minneola section of the South Lake trail. All artwork must be original. The large art murals will each measure about 9 ’x 14’. Artists are encouraged to visit the trail site prior to submitting their artwork proposals. No logos, words, names or numbers can appear in the designs. Go to the Minneola Artworx website: www.MinneolaArtworx.org for more information and to download submission forms.
Lisa Harris notes, “It has been very rewarding working with the mural artists while getting to know the teachers at our Minneola schools. It’s also so motivating to see the sense of community our student artists feel and have shared through their expressive wall art murals.” Gustavo Ortiz adds, “We really are excited to see more momentum from so many talented local Minneola artists submitting their artwork for our Trailhead Park wall murals!”
Mariska Callaway was selected as the first approved and featured artist to share her proposed wall art mural, which was approved by the City of Minneola. Callaway is a talented young home school student. Her proposed artwork symbolizes the need for peaceful diversity in our community, while also helping to support cancer awareness.
Marie Dudek Brown painted ‘Nurtured Nature’ with hearts and local scenes. Ten-year-old Helen Worthen of Grassy Lake Elementary School completed her wall art, while her parents Jenna and Chris Worthen, sister and her grandparents cheered her on.
Lily Keller mother Natasha Keller and Minneola Charter School art instructor Ellie Carmody accompanied Lilly. Lilly says she was inspired by her art classes – sharing artistic behaviors from the world around her, runners and dogs on the trail. She noted, “My mural wall art idea came from running races during the quarantine. Her mother added, “Lily has loved art since she picked up her first crayon! Her artwork has appeared on the cover of her school yearbook, She has also successfully sold a series of paintings of animals and people.”
Six different fun community skateboard races were held during this field day. Owner Indy Wilkins, noted. “We are very pleased to be able to promote and sponsor this skateboard competition for our community!” Over 50 local skate boarders competed. For more information about YUCK Skate shop, email: Info@YUCKSkateBoarding.com.
The idea of inviting the Minneola community to share the handprints on the trail is to help encourage everyone to become involved in the arts. For a small donation, you, your family and all local artists can become part of this project by painting your handprint onto the walls along with other members of our Minneola & South Lake Communities. Handprints come in all sizes. Handprints come in all sizes. The handprints of a 6-day-old baby were placed on the wall.
For more information on the Minneola Murals on the Trail, contact Josephine Dix at the Minneola Library at 352-432-3921 EXT: 380 or email: jdix@minneola.us.
For more information on the Minneola Artworx visit their website at www.MinneolaArtworx.org.
