HAPA UNVEILS “HEART OF THE COMMUNITY” MURAL IN NORTH MAIN DISTRICT

HATTIESBURG, MS (September 28, 2024) – Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art is pleased to unveil the city’s latest mural, titled Corazón de la Comunidad. Translated to “Heart of the Community,” the artwork was painted by Hattiesburg-based Latino artist Hector Boldo. Located in the North Main neighborhood, this is Hattiesburg’s 56^th large-scale mural.

The completed design is painted on a once-abandoned silo, visible from the Longleaf Trace and C.E. Roy Community Center. Nestled in the heart of this mixed-use neighborhood, the area has seen a tremendous amount of recent transformation. The addition of public art is one of many efforts to reinvigorate the North Main district.

Created in partnership with Chad and Catherine Edmonson, avid investors along North Main, the mural celebrates diversity and inclusion. Its design illustrates the importance of unity, featuring the history of the neighborhood while uplifting Hattiesburg’s growing Hispanic community. A unique blend of whimsy and tradition, vivid colors shimmer from the structure in brilliant tones of orange, yellow, and bright green.

Boldo incorporated native wildlife and fauna alongside symbols of the Latin community that both enrich the diversity of the area. Elements include a dynamic hummingbird, coral honeysuckle trumpet vines that thrive in the surrounding green spaces, and a sacred heart framing the composition.

“As a resident of the North Main district and member of the Hispanic community, this mural is especially meaningful to me,” said Boldo. “It is based on an original painting gifted to the Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity.”

The ribbon cutting for “Corazón de la Comunidad” was held in partnership with the Mobile Street Renaissance Festival, celebrating its 19^th year in 2024.

“It’s a joy to see the revitalization efforts that are transpiring here at the neighborhood level.  Public art has a way of uniting residents and creating connections through well-known places in our community,” said Marlo Dorsey, Executive Director, HAPA. “We are grateful to the artist and the Edmondson family for their vision and support.”      

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A program of VisitHATTIESBURG, HAPA began in 2014 through the leadership of community members and generous donors passionate about publicly sharing art and making it accessible to all. HAPA continues to purchase and place art throughout the city – in parks, neighborhoods, public buildings, and businesses – while also raising awareness for works of art already in the area. The organization is partially funded by VisitHATTIESBURG, Mississippi Arts Commission grants, the City of Hattiesburg, and other local organizations and individuals who believe in the importance of public art.