Mural City Art Fest showcases local talent

Give the people something to do, and they will come.

While not put in those words, organizers of the Fourth Annual Mural City Art Fest believe it will happen. If previous events are any indication, they will come in large numbers.

Attracting residents and guests to Dothan’s historic downtown district has been the driving force behind many of the special events co-sponsored by The Downtown Group and the city of Dothan in recent years. Organizers use these events to showcase the changes that are taking place in what was once Dothan’s shopping hub.

Gone from the district are the department stores and five-and-dime shops. They have been replaced by specialty restaurants, professional complexes and art galleries.

Another drawing card has taken root in downtown - 19 colorful murals. These murals led to Dothan’s designation as Alabama’s “Mural City.” The murals, many of which depict significant pieces of Dothan’s history, gave rise to the Mural City Art Fest (formerly the Wiregrass Festival of Murals).

“All great cities have events like this,” said Dothan City Manager Mike West as he discussed the role the art festival plays in attracting business back to the downtown district. “I can remember four years ago, Cathy Cole, Cynthia Green, Bob Hendrix and I went to lunch and talked about the concept (of the mural festival).

“We wanted to recognize the art that exists in our own community. This is a celebration of Dothan’s arts community. The future of downtown will be tied around this (Mural City designation), because this is what makes us unique.”

The Mural City Art Fest will also showcase three important venues, the Do-than Opera House, Civic Center and the Wiregrass Museum of Art, as it celebrates Dothan’s artists and the works they have created.

West noted the event stands on solid footing “because of all the people who believe in it.” He also noted that the festival is a great event for families. There is no admission charge to visit the displays. The special concerts that will be held in conjunction with the festival have nominal fees or have no admission fee at all.

“We believe in Dothan,” West continued. “We believe in Dothan’s downtown district. Our community is known for its shopping, for restaurants and for its medical facilities. It is also known for the arts.
“This event will help us bring in the next professionals, the next work force. It is part of the grand picture (for continued growth).”

Cathy Cole, executive director of The Downtown Group, noted the event has grown since its inception. And, she stated, so has the business community in downtown Dothan.

“We have added 26 new businesses in the last 10 months,” Cole said. “We’re making progress. We’re rebuilding the historic district.”

And, she noted, a new mural will join the line-up of sights to see in downtown.

“We’re working on mural number 20,” Ms. Cole said. “It will be a salute to entertainment. Local artist Wes Harden has been commissioned to do it.”

Entertainment in a multitude of forms - that is the focus of the Mural City Art Festival. That entertainment line-up kicks off Friday night with “A Night of Jazz” in the Dothan Civic Center. Admission is $14 for adults. Students are admitted free of charge.

The Northview High School Jazz Band will kick off the event at 6:30. Bruce Brown and Friends, featuring a bluesy type of jazz, will entertain at 7 p.m., followed by the Chris Hodges Band and the featured performers of the evening, the Chad Fisher Group.

“They are fantastic jazz artists,” said Kerry Farrell of The Main Event and program coordinator of the featured artists.

In addition to an evening of jazz, Ms. Farrell also noted some of Dothan’s eating establishments will also take part in the festivities.

“Several of our downtown restaurants (Blue Moon Cafe, D’Monico’s Italian Gardens) will be serving food that will be available for purchase,” Ms. Farrell added. “Also, the first 2,000 people who come to the concert will receive a free gift card from Bojangles.”

For more information about “A Night of Jazz,” visit http://www.ANOJdothan.com.

Saturday’s activities kick off bright and early with the Endurance 5K Fun Run/Walk hosted by First Baptist Church of Dothan. The event starts and ends at FBC, 300 W. Main St. Registration begins at 7 p.m. The race starts at 8 a.m. and will wind its way through downtown Dothan before taking participants back to First Baptist Church. Entry fee is $15 per person or $30 per family. For more information, call 792-3217.

“Street Fest” takes center stage for most of Saturday. This “celebration of the arts” will run from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Events will be held throughout the day at the Wiregrass Museum of Art, Poplar Head Park, the Dothan Opera House and North Foster Street.

Art activities for the entire family will be hosted by the Wiregrass Museum of Art. The museum will also be the site of a juried art show.

Horse and buggy rides will take visitors on a tour of Dothan’s 19 murals.

A unique blend of art and music will take place in the Dothan Opera House. The Tri-State Symphony Orchestra will provide three concerts, featuring “The Wiregrass Symphony,” written specifically for Do-than’s murals by Richard Pearson Thomas. During the symphony’s performance, each mural, as described by the music, will appear.

The performances will be held at 2:30, 3:15 and 4 p.m. Admission is $2 per person. Children six and under are admitted free of charge.

For more information, call 794-3871.

Two stages in the downtown area will also provide free live music throughout the day.

For more information about the Mural City Art Fest and a complete line-up of the entertainment, visit http://www.muralcityartfest.com or call The Main Event, 793-9042.