Bless Her Heart

All quilts consist of small pieces connected with one common thread. 

Art is an American quilt created by the art councils, artists, businesses and communities working together to bring beauty into our great country. 

Art connects the rich history and cultures of each state together to tell the story of our nation’s history. 

During the 1980s, this art became available to the public in a new way – through a global movement 

Communities began inviting artists to paint large murals bridge abutments, the sides of tall buildings and almost any other lackluster locations. 

Mississippi shows its acceptance of this movement through murals located throughout the state – including Jackson, Laurel, Oxford, Starkville. 

Why Hattiesburg? 

But the city of Hattiesburg has embraced this movement by setting the goal of being known as “The City with 100 Murals.”  

Today, Hattiesburg has nearly the same number of murals of larger cities…including Atlanta and Nashville.  

Toby Barker. the mayor of Hattiesburg, recognized the importance of public art. 

He made a commitment to making Hattiesburg known as “The City of 100 Murals.” 

Over the last decade, this commitment has been given support from business owners, organizations and residents…as well as visitors drawn to Hattiesburg by the public art. 

Is “public art” really important? Why? 

Public art is important for several reasons. 

Public art is beneficial to the following groups of people: 

• The Artists: Public art gives the community a chance to offer their talent to the community, especially in areas of the city that often seem forgotten. Having an opportunity to share this talent and creativity can help the artists realize their potential. 

• The City: Public art contributes to the local landscape, making something ordinary extraordinary…adding character and charm. 

• The Community: Public art promotes community engagement and unity. Residents enjoy a greater sense of pride and a appreciation for the arts.. 

• The Culture: Public art celebrates the diversity of an area…a diversity that should not simply be recognized, tolerated and accepted..but that .should also be celebrated. 

• The Individual: Public art connects us to the arts and to each other. It makes us think 

These murals share stories about… 

Hattiesburg People and Places 

Daylily Destination  

• Artist: Hattiesburg native, Kym Garraway
• Mural Number: 37
• Purpose: To celebrate naming the daylily as Hattiesburg’s city flower and then being given the nickname “Daylily City” by the American Daylily Society
• Subject: features many varieties of beautiful daylilies and butterflies
• Unique:  first mural to be painted on metal

Hattiesburg Horizons 

• Number: 50 
• Artist: Hattiesburg artist Ricardo Moody 
• Purpose: pays homage to the city’s infrastructure and architectural elements while acknowledging its heritage
• Size: 13 feet high x 42 feet wide

Love Done Well 

• Artist: Aubri Sparkman 
• Location: Midtown Market development on Hardy Street 
• Purpose: colorful and inspiring memorial in honor of Gerry McIntire Waites, once a community leader in cultural and educational realm of the city 

The Family. 

• Purpose: A tribute to Osceola McCarty, a local wash woman who generously gifted $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi in 1995 
• Subject: features Ms. McCarty, Bible in her lap, rocking beside a large oak tree in a lush grassy field, surrounded by diverse neighborhood families

Local History 

Jam Session 

• Artist: Jackson-based artist Reshonda Perryman
• Location: Rebekah Stark Johnson Community Arts Center
• Mural Number: 51 
• Purpose: to recognize musicians having roots in Hattiesburg
• Subject: eight of 20 individual artists/musicians having ties to the city 
•  Unique: first of several murals designed to recognize local musicians 

Significant Events and Topics in American History 

Courage

• Location: Veterans’ Park 
• Purpose: to honor the various courageous acts by Hattiesburg’s finest…including Jesse L. Brown, the United States’ first African American naval aviator killed in the Korean War. 

Hub City, Smile 

• Subject: an enormous welcoming smile with a banner across the top that features a quote by Mother Teresa:  
• Quote: “You’ll Never Know All the Good a Simple Smile Can Do.” 
• Unique: the first completed public art piece 

New Normal 

• Artist: Andrea Kostyal started this painting during the pandemic
• Purpose: To remind us of the pandemic

The Artists Themselves 

Be You 

• Location: Hardy Street 
• Mural Number: 47 
• Size: 13 feet high x 64 feet wide 

Nature’s Way 

• Mural Number: 11 
• Purpose: to inspire young people and provide an educational lesson on plant and animal life in the area 

In conclusion, if you’re interested in seeing these murals and more while you are in Hattiesburg, a brochure with map is available on the VisitHBURG app or the. Hburg.com website. 

Also look for official trail stop signs throughout the area. 

Finally, be sure to check out the HAPA’s Facebook and Instagram pages.