“The Florida Skunk Ape”
The Florida Skunk Ape mural was commissioned by Travis Hise, owner of St Pete Ink, as an effort to revamp the front of their shop. St Pete Ink Co. is a locally owned and operated custom screen printing business. As a gesture of Mr. Hise’s appreciation, he has offered to show the students of Gibbs Mural Club the entire process of screen printing using a custom design for the club.
Public art offers a unique opportunity to share a story with its viewers. The theme of the mural uses screen printing elements in combination with local folklore. The Skunk Ape is a Floridian version of the Big Foot, aptly name after its pungent odor. Sightings are very rare, but they have been reported throughout the state. The Florida Skunk Ape is a story that many visitors and citizens of the state of Florida are unaware of. Never the less, it is important to understand the wildlife of Florida one may encounter before venturing into the jungle.
You can visit this mural at 2631 6th Avenue South, St Petersburg, Florida. It is located in the warehouse district alongside some of Tampa Bay’s finest muralists. The warehouse district is full of amazing local artist and their studios that contribute to the bright local art community. The Art Walk, which takes place on the second Saturday of every month, is a great opportunity to view these studios, as well as a colorful collection of St Pete murals.
Big thanks to Mr. Hise and St Pete ink, the kids of Gibbs Mural Club, and the parents for making this project a huge success. It was a community effort on all fronts. Our hard work was recognized on the cover of the St Pete Times, as well as featured in Spectrum of the Arts by WPDS-TV14. Below are some process shots of everyone working together to bring you a glimpse of the rare Florida Skunk Ape.
