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<\/p>\nFormer SHINE Mural Festival director Jenee Priebe believes that art can help activate the St. Petersburg portion of the Pinellas Trail. A member of grassroots organization the Sunline, she outlined the coalition\u2019s Public Art Program at a Florida Greenways and Trails Council meeting today.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Sunline is focused on enhancing the Pinellas Trail, Priebe said during her presentation, and making it a \u201cpeople-centered\u201d public space that supports connectivity and shared prosperity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of ways to activate the community, but art is a really great way to do that,\u201d she explained. \u201cWe are talking about artists and residents co-creating spaces that reflect the local identity and pride in St. Pete.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Priebe and the Sunline team envision the trail section, which begins at Demens Landing Park (at Bayshore Drive SE. and 2nd Avenue SE.) and runs throughout the city, as a \u201clinear outdoor museum.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This could help bring people of different backgrounds together. Art can become a \u201ccommon ground,\u201d Priebe said. The Pinellas Trail connects neighborhoods and the EDGE, Warehouse Arts, Historic Gas Plant and Central Arts districts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Installing an open-space gallery can \u201cspark dialogue,\u201d she added. \u201cIt forces you to have an opinion on the art, whether you like it or don\u2019t like it. You\u2019re going to tell your friends and everyone online.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Commissioning permanent and temporary work from local, national and international artists, Priebe argued, can help St. Petersburg become a \u201cworld-class destination\u201d for \u201ccontemporary public art.\u201d These pieces would be hand selected.<\/p>\n
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Jenee Priebe. Photo provided.<\/p>\n
More importantly, they would be free and accessible for people to view.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no barriers to experiencing this type of art,\u201d she explained. \u201cYou are able to introduce people to art, who otherwise may not seek it out. They may never go to a museum or gallery.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Priebe, the founder and owner of consultancy company No Good Deeds Art<\/a>, currently works with business owners, property owners and municipalities and helps pair them with qualified artists for projects<\/a>. She served as the director for the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance\u2019s SHINE Mural Festival from 2018 to 2025. The yearly event has led to many of the city\u2019s public art displays.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI know from experience that people will go where the art goes,\u201d Priebe said. \u201cIt\u2019s a great way to get people out exploring. You may see a picture of a piece of art online and go to some weird alley or backroad that you would have never gone to otherwise because you wanted to experience that art for yourself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Consequently, public art can encourage more people to walk and ride on the trail. This can have a health benefit and increase community physical activity. Additionally, it can help connect individuals with nature.\u00a0<\/p>\n New York City\u2019s High Line park and the Atlanta Beltline trail have served as inspirations for the organization\u2019s Public Art Program. An outdoor \u201cmuseum\u201d can also support the St. Petersburg area economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Commissions provide paid opportunities for artists. Additionally, the project can encourage them to experiment with their work beyond murals. They can create multimedia pieces, sculptures, mosaics and floating waterfront installations.<\/p>\n A Pinellas Trail gallery can offer an unique tourism opportunity, she added, encouraging guests to stay longer and visit local restaurants and shops.\u00a0<\/p>\n While the initiative is only focused on the St. Petersburg section of the trail, Priebe said, there is an opportunity to display public art throughout the county dependent on conversations with other municipalities.\u00a0<\/p>\n