Join us in our efforts
to bring public art to Portsmouth, Virginia.
PROJECTS
Wings Project
Like everyone else, SPPA had a crazy year. Due to Covid all of our famed fundraisers were canceled, and we had to rely on our generous donors and our bank account. However, we still managed to produce some of our most imaginative and participatory public art. We have begun to produce a series of murals throughout Portsmouth. The first of three are located in the Olde Towne Business District. Sue Landerman, acclaimed artist and SPPA board member, created a 13-foot “Angel Wings” on PVC board, complete with relief and a fallen feather. This art piece was installed in front of the administrative office of Nancy Perry in the Middle Street mall.
Victoria Weiss, local artist from Virginia Beach, painted two more “Wings” murals: a whimsical biplane on the wall (facing Dinwiddie Street) of Baron’s Pub and a colorful hummingbird for children also in the Middle Street mall outside of the Olde Towne Arts & Music shop.
Toads on High Street Project
The second of our interactive art is “Toads on High Street”, a scavenger hunt, in which citizens and visitors follow a story about our famed toad, Bufo, as he hunts for his friend, Ana, up and down High Street. A brochure has been produced to tell the adventure and is available in the 13 participating shops and restaurants, as well as the Portsmouth Hospitality Centers. We wish to thank our local artists who donated their talent and time to produce amazing interpretations of our story: Ellen Bible, Stephen Grunnet, Rebecca Myers, Dawn Richardson, and Ben & Carolyn Riley.
