Minehead Bay Festival brought art, music, and community spirit together in spectacular fashion on Saturday. As well as grafitti art by Charlie MacFarley and TISK1 I created a vibrant and powerful live mural painting. My work titled “M for Minehead” was revealed during the day as I painted it live in front of festival goers.
Standing an impressive 8 feet tall, the mural became aa backdrop to the festival. Created live in the heart of the festivities, my acrylic artwork unfolded stroke by stroke to the infectious rhythms of the Wellington Samba Band, who provided a lively, percussive backdrop that echoed through the streets.
I chose to paint a giant M as bold statement of local pride. I’ve become known for my expressive use of colour and themes rooted in community and environment, so designed the mural as a tribute to the town’s rich cultural and coastal heritage.
“The ‘M’ stands for more than just Minehead,” “It stands for memory, movement, and the magic of community coming together. I wanted the piece to reflect the energy of this place – and nothing says energy quite like a samba band!”
The Minehead Bay Festival, is now a regular fetaure in the town’s cultural calendar and showcased a diverse mix of art, music, food, and community engagement this year. From live performances and artisan stalls to interactive workshops and storytelling sessions, the festival celebrated the creative spirit of the West Somerset coast. I only wish I could’ve seen more of it as I was engrossed in painting an 8 ft mural in only just a few hours. Big thank you for Minehead Bay Festival for asking me along and to Zoe Snape for her encouragement and wonderful photograph (see featured image).
Alison Jacobs 