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Martin County Arts Fest recap: passport tour draws crowds; Ashley Gutierrez wins Centennial mural People's Choice
Summary
Martin County's Art in Public Places program recapped Arts Fest 2025, highlighted a passport-style tour and survey, and announced Ashley Gutierrez as the People's Choice winner for the county centennial mural call.
Naomi Lopez, a specialist with the Martin County Office of Community Development, told the Art in Public Places advisory board that Arts Fest 2025, held in February, drew strong attendance and featured a county “passport” tour that encouraged visitors to meet artists and vote for a mural.
"Arts Fest happened in February last month. It was a great turnout," Lopez said, summarizing the event and the office’s outreach efforts.
The passport activity—branded “Travel with Martha” in promotional materials—gave attendees a paper passport to collect stamps at three participating muralists’ stations. Visitors who collected all three stamps returned to the Art in Public Places booth for a prize and a chance to cast a People’s Choice vote for the Martin County Centennial murals project. The program offered both a QR-code survey and paper forms for those without smartphones.
Three artists were selected in the county’s call for Centennial mural proposals: Ashley Gutierrez, Caroline Nolan and Eden Hazel (name pronunciation noted in the meeting). The board was shown images of each finalist. Lopez identified Ashley Gutierrez as the People’s Choice winner.
Board members asked brief questions about turnout and whether adults and children both used the passport; Lopez said the passport engaged a mix of ages and that the team staffed the booth with surveys, inventory posters, marketing materials and art supplies.
The recap also noted the AIPP team present at Arts Fest (Elise, Susan, Joy and Lopez) and displayed photos from the booth, including the program mascot. Lopez asked if there were any questions and none were raised beyond informal praise for the event and the passport idea.
The Art in Public Places program said it will use the survey responses to inform future outreach and continue promoting the Centennial mural project as it moves from selection toward installation planning. No formal board action was recorded at the meeting specifically about the Arts Fest recap or the mural awards beyond the public announcement of the People’s Choice outcome.
