Annual Paint the flood wall event

CherylL · Sep 2, 2024

Every year this event is held by the river on the flood walls. Artists from around the country and some Internationally attend for the 3 day event. Paint Louis is on the Mural Mile flood wall just south of the Gateway Arch. A few favorites:

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cgw · Sep 2, 2024

Truly nice. Some real talent on display. Great exercise in community-building through public art! Hereabouts--dare I say it--a welcome break from bugs, birds and flora...Thanks!

Digger... · Sep 2, 2024

They just paint over the last years murals?

CherylL · Sep 3, 2024

cgw said:
Truly nice. Some real talent on display. Great exercise in community-building through public art! Hereabouts--dare I say it--a welcome break from bugs, birds and flora...Thanks!

Agree the artists are talented. I think some are pro painters by day.

Digger... said:
They just paint over the last years murals?

Yes. Day 1 Fri they paint over their section of the wall with white or black paint and start the outlines. Day 2 Sat paint, and Day 3 Sun completes mural.
I usually go on Day 2 to see the work in progress. The artists will stop and tell you about their inspo. This year I went on Day 3 and while nice to see the completion, I prefer to see the work in progress. The artist usually have their same spot each year. I've met a team once from the Netherlands and another team from Mexico. Teams are from across the US.
The first year we went it wasn't advertised. You could drive down the rugged Wharf street and park anywhere. The HipHop DJ mixer was on a small table next to a warehouse. Now, you have to buy a pass to drive or park on the Wharf street. There are food trucks, a stage with sound systems, and vendors with pop up tents. The event made the front page of the St Louis paper. I liked the event when it wasn't commercialized.

One year it rained off and on which made slow going on the paint, but it made for nice reflections. A few from previous years:

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