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The Bluffton Sun
Feb. 1, 2022
Bluffton artist spreads love of art through community murals Superb deals all week before Sunday’s“Big Game” and Valentine’s Day! We have a full roster of specials for your football party on Feb. 13 Wings, Sausages & Marinades PHOTOS COURTESY LINDSEY SPEARS
We are featuring Filets, Lobster Tails & Chocolate-Covered Strawberries for Valentine’s Day TASTES LIKE LOVE! Come in and find the perfect flavors for your Gameday Party and Valentine’s Dinner! The Lowcountry’s Premier Gourmet Market • Bagel Bakery & Cafe´ • Grocery Items • Prepared Foods • Beer & Wine • Fresh Seafood • Prime Meat • Sushi
Located in Tanger Outlets 2 in Bluffton Open Daily 8am - 7pm • nantucketsmarket.com
Artist Lindsey Spears (kneeling, second from left) has been the creative force behind a number of community murals popping up across Bluffton.
By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR
What began as a response to a Facebook post has spawned a bit of a volunteer movement in Bluffton that is spotlighting how art can brighten up our daily lives. Lindsey Spears is a professional artist specializing in business and home murals, portraits, live paintings at weddings, and commission work as the owner of PaintingsNStuff. She has been gaining a following here since moving from her hometown Jacksonville to Bluffton four years ago when her husband, Kaleb, landed a job with the Bluffton Fire Department. Spears’ portfolio is a combination of live wedding portraits, in-home murals, and an array of noticeable business works, like painting the fence at Joe’s Ice Cream and Beverage Company. While working on a home mural for a client last year, she was alerted to a post from The Pines at Bluffton memory care facility, looking for someone to spruce up their backyard fence area with artwork. “It was a job too big for just me, so I decided to make a community project out of it,” Spears said. “We put the word out to
middle and high school students looking for community service hours and anyone who has an interest in art and wants to make something special.” Spears soon heard from students and adults alike who wanted to help out. She designed a concept on her iPad that was approved by officials at The Pines and her crew of eight volunteers went to work on the project, finishing in mid-October. “My grandfather lived in a memory care facility in Jacksonville, so this hit close to home. To see all these kids and adults so excited to brighten up these folks’ day with art, it was amazing,” Spears said. “My grandfather passed last summer. I wish he was here to see this come to life, but he was definitely an inspiration.” The mural of vibrant flowers and landscapes was well received and gave Spears an unexpected jolt of creativity. “When art is your job, it’s really easy to get burned out. I was talking with Kaleb and just told him how reinvigorating this was, and that I needed to do something like this every few months,” Spears said. True to her word, Spears next turned to
Please see MURALS on page 20A