GULFPORT, Fla. \u2014 The deadline is looming for Florida municipalities to remove street art.<\/p>\n
The Florida Department of Transportation sent letters to local governments instructing them to remove street art it has deemed political and distracting.<\/p>\n
What You Need To Know<\/p>\n
\u00a0Many street murals have to be removed in Florida, due to state orders
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\u00a0In response ArtFluent Creatives is painting small murals on private property for free
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\u00a0The art agency said it’s paintings honor marginalized communities\u00a0
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wouldn’t allow state roads to be taken over for political purposes<\/p>\n
There are 47 locations where art will be removed in the city of Tampa.<\/p>\n
Five murals in St. Petersburg are also going to be erased.<\/p>\n
In response, a Pinellas County artist has started a project to paint murals on private properties \u2014 the \u201cLove Thy Neighbor Project\u201d by ArtFluent Creatives kicked off on Friday.<\/p>\n
Every stroke of the paint brush had a purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cTry to get in all the little holes, make sure this is really durable,\u201d said Michelle Sasha, owner of ArtFluent Creatives.<\/p>\n
Sasha has always had an interest in art, but she\u2019s made a career out of it for the last eight years.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just create things that make people happy it’s the best job that there could be,” she said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it. It’s worth it every day.”<\/p>\n
Friday she kicked off The Love Thy Neighbor Project with her art agency ArtFluent Creatives. Sasha and her team of artists are painting small murals for free that she said honor marginalized communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to help the ones that need the louder voice, gain a louder voice,\u201d Sasha said.<\/p>\n