A poetry storm is coming to Biloxi’s sidewalks

Unsuspecting pedestrians walking throughout downtown Biloxi soon will find some bright spots on rainy days with hidden poetry that reveals itself when wet.

Haiku’s, quotes and original poetry will appear one wet sidewalks and streets in downtown Biloxi for 3-4 weeks beginning Monday.

The Biloxi Poetry Storm public art initiative was created, organizers say, to open a dialogue about public art and city beautification.

The project, sponsored by the Biloxi Bay Chamber in partnership with Gulf Coast Community Design Studio and Believe in Art Gulf Coast, is inspired by the Raining Poetry project in Boston Massachusetts.

Artists and community members spray painted 20 poems on the sidewalks, streets and other public areas making for a more vibrant downtown Biloxi.

“The poetry is just going to come alive off of the sidewalks of the downtown area,” said Tina Ross-Simons director of Biloxi Bay Chamber.

The hidden art project is painted with Rust-Oleum Neverwet donated by BLP Mobile Paint Center in Biloxi, a local business supporting a local art project. The bio-degradable spray paint is nearly invisible in the sunlight and will last for up to 3 weeks depending on foot traffic.

The project’s total cost is $320. Pedestrians may even visit area businesses that have watering cans to wet the poems on a sunny day.

Madison Talley and her husband Mark of Ocean Springs participated in choosing a quote by the late novelist Samuel Beckett.

“I think this culture that we have and have created for ourselves is very much about perfection,” said Ocean Springs architect Madison Talley. “Knowing that it’s OK to make a mistake and come back from that mistake, and you can be stronger from it is inspirational. I think it’s a very relateable poem. I would hope that people would see a little bit of themselves in it.”

This story was originally published July 23, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "A poetry storm is coming to Biloxi’s sidewalks."