Human Body Celebrated At Gulfport's 1st Friday Art Walk

GULFPORT, FL — Gulfport’s First Friday Art Walk returns to Beach Boulevard on Friday, July 2, with a themed celebration of the human body at the inaugural "Body Beautiful," the fourth quarterly themed art walk since the signature event’s return last October.

More than 35 emerging and fine artists across several mediums will show their expressive takes on the human body form at the event, which also features a live auction of artistically designed mannequins, belly dancing, drag queen bingo, body painting and a sensual fire performance.

The celebration is hosted by the Gulfport Merchants Chamber and takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. on Beach Boulevard, with activities scheduled throughout the evening and the live auction taking place at 7 p.m. at Stella’s in the Village Courtyard. Twenty-two artistically designed mannequin body forms will be up for bid, with partial proceeds going towards a grant for local emerging artists.

Brenda McMahon leads the arts committee of the Gulfport Merchants Chamber, the host of the monthly event.

“The Gulfport Merchants Chamber is excited to host this inaugural Body Beautiful Art Walk. We plan on having all expressions of the body from art and adornment to body painting and gender bender bingo. It’s designed to be fun, provocative and just a little bit fresh,” said McMahon.

In addition to the evening’s assortment of fine artists and entertainment, the live auction is a highly anticipated highlight of the event locally, showcasing the talents of 22 artists and benefitting a grant for the town’s emerging artists. The body forms are on display at local businesses until the night of the event when freshly painted bodies will stroll along Beach Boulevard and assist in the auction with popular local auctioneer Phillip Bailey providing his services for the event.

“Twenty-two artists have taken the time to create these amazing body forms and we hope the public responds with enthusiastic bids. It’s all for a good cause. Twenty percent of the proceeds will be donated to the GMC Art Walk Scholarship Program that helps artists develop their businesses through the First Friday Art Walk,” said McMahon.

For more information or to apply, visit visitgulfportflorida.com/first-friday-art-walk/.