Second annual Selma Rising Mural Art Festival returns Oct. 18 with more featured artists

Selma’s artistic spirit is rising again as the second annual MACAS Selma Rising Mural Art Festival returns to Phoenix Park on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

Organized by Tres and Helene Taylor and the team behind Making Art Connections Across Selma (MACAS), the festival promises a vibrant day of community collaboration, creativity and celebration. 

This year’s event expands on last year’s success, growing from five to eight featured artists, with a ninth mural designed and painted by students from the MACAS Mural Club. Artists will travel from Columbus, Ohio, Montgomery and Selma itself, including local talents Ann Smith Reeves and Robert Baines. Returning contributors from last year will also join the lineup.  

The festival’s theme, “Selma Rising,” reflects a commitment to positivity and unity. 

“We’re using art as a medium to bring the community together,” Tres Taylor said. “It’s about showing where Selma is today and where we’re going.” 

One of the festival’s most unique features is its open invitation to the public to help paint the murals. No experience is necessary. Designs will be pre-drawn, and artists will guide participants through the process.  

“From two to 102, anybody is welcome,” Taylor said. 

Last year’s murals, painted on large boards, will be installed throughout Selma’s eight wards, with plans to add the new works annually. Solar-powered lighting will eventually illuminate the murals, creating a nighttime art trail that complements Selma’s rich historical legacy. 

Beyond painting, the festival will include yoga, Tai Chi, spoken word performances and dance, thanks to partnerships coordinated by Helene Taylor. The day will conclude with a community walk to the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where participants will toss flowers into the river as a symbolic gesture of remembrance and hope. 

For more information, visit www.macasselma.org or head to Phoenix Park on Saturday to be part of Selma’s rising story.