Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrWaBDCuIH4&list=PLOQvdw7d0cd9RZZkd2lZy2hmrnJv-cfLI&index=44
Evan: We're back here on the Truth I Have Five Four Podcast special, Hollywood Showcase series, episode number three, with Downtown Hollywood Mural Project manager and curator Bill Weisberg, here in front of one of the most notable murals in the project. You're about to find out a little bit more about it if you didn't know that she was involved.
Bill Weisberg: Before we started, we got kind of live from in an effort to make this sweat a place to live and not just a better place to vacation. The point of the podcast is exactly that—you may see people like her who are doing incredible things in the community. There’s quite a bunch of great things going on here in downtown Hollywood and on the beaches as well. This podcast is sponsored by the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency, working very hard to cultivate culture and community in Hollywood, creating more activities, more events, more placemaking, more things to do. If you want to find out more, go to Florida’s Hollywood.org in the Office of Opportunities to join us this weekend. Let me tell you about what we’ve got coming up. But without much further ado, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?
I hope so. My name is Bill Weisberg. I’ve been working with the CRA since 2012, and we’ve had 25-year-old murals now. It’s very, very exciting to work with such talented artists.
Evan: It’s really exciting to do something that adds so much to the community. How did you get involved in this project?
Bill Weisberg: It’s really funny. So, when I was a small child, I have to credit my mom because she used to take me to the art and culture center, which was on the beach at the time. She took me there for painting lessons, so I’ve been painting since I was about five or six years old. I’ve been painting my whole entire life. I went to school for graphic design, but I’ve always been involved in art over the last couple of years. I’ve done murals in the past and things like that, so I’ve always found a connection in art. My mom also took me to museums and all types of cultural events.
Evan: It sounds like you’ve been very much diversifying your life. There’s probably nobody more qualified in the county to run this world-class mural project. For those that are not familiar, can you tell us a little bit about the Downtown Hollywood Mural Project?
Bill Weisberg: Here, I work with private property owners to create public art projects. For example, Penny Sharp, a well-known artist in the pop art community, had a very robust art practice, maybe starting in the late ‘80s. He’s internationally recognized and has murals all over the place. This is the gorgeous mural he did for us, and it’s adorable. I love all the different facial expressions and the range of emotions that the characters show. But my favorite part is the characters that are kind of flying off of a picture frame. It really brings to life the concept that these characters are more than just paint on a wall. They feel alive and full of emotion.
Evan: The other thing I really enjoy about this public art is that it is accessible. You don’t have to walk into a gallery; this work is available for everyone to see and interact with. People come downtown just to see the murals, and it’s wonderful to see people engaging with the art.
Bill Weisberg: It’s quite impressive, and we have names like The London Police and Ruben Suarez involved in the project. We have so many artists—about 25 different artists—but some of the ones you mentioned, like Ruben Suarez, are local favorites.
Evan: People love being able to see the process, watching the artist paint. It’s one thing to see the finished product, but to see what goes into it is another experience. We do such a great job curating this project, and it really enhances the experience of being on a tour. It takes place every third Saturday. Tell us something about the walking tour.
Bill Weisberg: The third Saturday walking tour starts at 6:00 p.m. We recently changed our meeting spot to Harrison and 20th Avenue, so if anyone has been before, it’s one street over now. We meet at the white information tent at 6:00 p.m., and I take everyone on a walking tour. We don’t hit all the murals, but we visit a variety, and I switch it up every month to keep it fresh for repeat visitors. It’s a free tour, and you can come every month. Last month, it was crazy, but everyone seemed to enjoy it. Since I manage all of these murals, I know how they were conceived, so I talk about the artists, their backgrounds, the concepts behind the murals, and why they chose certain designs. It’s super fun, and people seem to enjoy it.
Evan: It’s great to hear that people are engaged. There is a guided tour, but there’s also a self-guided tour available. There’s a map of all the murals with photos and locations on the Florida’s Hollywood website. So, you can explore on your own, or take the guided tour. We encourage people to take photos and tag the Downtown Hollywood Mural Project with the hashtag or tag on Facebook or Instagram. If you do the self-guided tour, one of the best times is on a Sunday morning when there aren’t many cars around, and the light is perfect for photography.
Bill Weisberg: By doing your own tour and taking photos, you help spread the word and raise awareness about this project. There are so many benefits to taking an outdated or blank wall and adding life and color to it. It creates civic pride that we have a world-class mural project here in downtown Hollywood, in Broward County. The interesting part is that many people don’t know this, but downtown Hollywood is the only historic business district in Florida, so that’s a big deal. And while we don’t have a lot of celebrity attention, we do have buildings that are well-maintained and charming.
Evan: It’s really added life, color, charm, and vibrancy to downtown Hollywood. It’s put us on the map, and as a result, we’re bringing in more businesses and visitors. There’s been national, international, and local press coverage, which has been great for tourism and local businesses.
Bill Weisberg: We have some artists who have also done murals in places like Wynwood Walls. For example, Ernest Marana recently did a mural at Wynwood Walls, and now we have his work here in downtown Hollywood.
Evan:: It’s impressive that this is the largest walkable mural project around. And it’s not just about the art—there’s so much going on during the Art Walk. You mentioned needing some last-minute gifts. There’s a lot of local artisans involved, right?
Bill Weisberg: Yes, and these are very unique, handmade items. If you need something special, you can find it at the Art Walk. We’ve also celebrated 15 years of the Hollywood Art Walk. It’s a real team effort with the Hollywood CRA team, city commissioners, and Mayor Levy. It brings people together and creates a sense of community. The Art Walk is crucial for artists, our creative economy, dreamers, entrepreneurs, and more. It gives people a platform to display and sell their handmade crafts. Not everyone has the means to open a retail storefront, but they can pop up once a month at the Art Walk.
Evan: It’s great that the Art Walk has built up such a good following over the last 15 years. It’s really important for the community to come out and support local entrepreneurs and their passions. The city is getting behind this event, and there’s so much new to explore. Marketing teams are planning, shutting down streets, putting up stages, and booking bands. For example, the Deep Fried Punk Band is playing at 9:00 p.m. on the main stage, and the Hoodoo Blues Band is playing at 7:00 p.m.
Bill Weisberg: Also, don’t miss Daniel Conte painting with his feet. If you’ve never seen him do this, it’s not what you think. He’s dancing and painting with his feet, surrounded by a drum circle. It’s one of the most amazing things you’ll ever see.
Evan: That’s happening right across from the Giorgetto Condos mural on Harrison Street.
Bill Weisberg: Yes, if you’ve never seen it, it’s definitely worth checking out. It’s amazing to see how everyone has different talents. Daniel creates these beautiful large-scale paintings while dancing. It’s incredible.
Evan: You can find out more at Florida’s Hollywood.org, where all the events and activities are listed. You can also find more information on the Choose 9-5-4 social media pages.
Bill Weisberg: If you’re looking for Florida’s Hollywood, they have a Facebook page—just search for Florida’s Hollywood. If you’re looking for the Hollywood Mural Project, you can find it under that name as well. We encourage you to take photos, tag Florida’s Hollywood, and use the hashtag #Choose954. I’m Evan Snow, and you can find me at @evansnow13 on social media. We look forward to seeing you this Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in beautiful downtown Hollywood. We’ll be at the new information tent on Harrison and 20th, and we look forward to seeing you for the last Hour Walk of the year. Cheers, and thanks so much!
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