Jacksonville Beach committee selects 'Find Some Fun' mural for First Street dumpster enclosure

The Jacksonville Beach Art Committee voted to recommend the mural design “Find Some Fun” for a painted dumpster enclosure on First Street, the committee announced during its meeting. The committee approved the selection by voice vote and will forward the preferred candidate to the Community Redevelopment Agency for consideration on March 24; final approval must come from city council on April 7 before a contract is issued.

Committee staff said the call for submissions sought designs that would enhance the visual appeal of the enclosure, fit the beach character, provide high visibility for local artists and create a clear photo-op or "selfie" moment. Taylor, a city staff member who coordinated the application process, told the committee that the selection is contingent on CRA and city council approvals and that the city's legal team and contracting process would define payment schedules and completion terms.

Committee members discussed seven finalists in some depth before narrowing their choices. The final two designs were Jason Tetlock's colorful surfboard/graphic proposal and a shark-teeth graphic submitted under the name Lauren (recorded in the packet as Lauren Klaus). Committee members praised both designs for strong graphic quality and high visibility; several members said they preferred the shark-teeth piece for its distinctive, whimsical photo opportunity. Committee members also raised practical concerns about feasibility, theft or vandalism of attached three-dimensional elements, and whether certain submissions provided a clearly defined photo-op area.

During deliberations, members asked staff to confirm that missing application materials (references, timelines, letters) were a result of a formatting issue with the online form and not the artists' omissions; staff said the administration would be given some latitude because the submission platform had caused inconsistencies. Members also asked that, if selected, the artist consider making the shark jaws more three-dimensional and darker so they "pop" as a photo backdrop.

The committee motion to approve the shark-teeth design, referenced in the meeting as “Find Some Fun,” was made and seconded; the approval was recorded as a voice vote with committee members saying "aye." No roll-call tally or named vote counts were recorded on the meeting transcript. City staff said they will notify the preferred candidate that she is the committee's recommended artist pending formal approvals, and that the artist may begin preliminary planning or material procurement while the item moves through the approval process.

Next steps and timing noted in the meeting: the committee will present its recommendation to the Community Redevelopment Agency at its March 24 meeting and, if CRA approves, the item will go to city council on April 7 for final contract authorization. Staff expressed a goal to reach substantial completion before opening of the beaches on April 27, subject to contracting and any legal or procurement requirements.

Background: The selection is part of a downtown public art initiative; committee members said the city plans additional murals of similar size in the near term and encouraged artists who were not selected to reapply for future opportunities.