Searcy adds color to Downtown with sidewalk art

The City of Jackson and Our Jackson Home officially announced a partnership between the two entities to facilitate more public art to be displayed in the arts district in Downtown.

Local artist Courtney Searcy was the first artist to take advantage of that partnership as she and a team of volunteers completed her sidewalk art that's displayed on the western corners of the intersection of Shannon and Lafayette in Downtown in front of The Local and Grace Broadcasting's WNWS-FM 101.5 studio.

Searcy said her design for the sidewalk corners were to reflect what happens a few dozen yards from the intersection at the West Tennessee Farmers' Market.

"I wanted to try to figure out a way to almost display what happens there and what is presented in all four seasons of the year, but we couldn't make that happen," Searcy said. "So I wanted it to be as reflective as possible of what the Farmers' Market and The Local does in Downtown and giving local makers and creators and farmers a way to display what they've developed and grown."

Those who cross the intersection and look over the painting will notice strawberries, tomatoes and corn among the items depicted in the art.

"You go to the Farmers' Market, and you'll get at least some of that any given week," Searcy said. "And it's become such a focal point of Downtown that it's worth almost pointing to from the next block over."

Searcy spent the week before Thanksgiving putting the actual piece together in its place, designing the different aspects of the sidewalk art.

"Once that part was done, any volunteers that wanted to come help would be able to and it would almost be a paint-by-numbers setup after that," Searcy said. "Part of the design was what color each element would be, and we had the paint ready.

"Honestly without the volunteer team - and I'm not even sure I could guess how many there were - this would've taken a lot longer than it did. I'm very grateful to all the volunteers that helped out."

Jackson Mayor Scott Conger and some members of his leadership team were even a part of the volunteer team as the City of Jackson's social media pages posted photos of the Mayor and others from the third floor of City Hall helping put finishing touches on the art.

"I came to Jackson for college and stayed after graduating in 2014 and wasn't sure how long I would stay," Searcy said. "But I'm glad I'm still here and can see the people of the city partnering with the local government and other leaders to support the arts community."

Searcy also uses her artistic skills in helping developing brands for businesses, and her work can be found at fine-company.com.

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news