“Blooming Unity”

Blooming Unity at Paint Memphis — My First Mural Festival Adventure (ft. My Mom!)

In October 2024, I packed my paintbrushes, sunscreen, and a whole lot of nerves and excitement for my very first mural festival—Paint Memphis. This annual event transforms walls across the city into vibrant canvases, and I was honored (and slightly terrified) to be one of 100 artists selected from around the globe to participate.

When I found out I’d be painting a pretty large wall (translation: “hope you brought snacks and stamina”), I knew I’d need some backup. Naturally, I called in the most enthusiastic helper I know: my mom. She’s been asking to assist with one of my murals for years, and what better opportunity than a four-day whirlwind of art, music, and Memphis magic?

Let me tell you—my mom was a total legend. She told everyone her name was “Dani’s Mom,” and by the end of the festival she had unofficially adopted half the other artists. She was mural festival mom—cheering people on, handing out granola bars, and making friends left and right while slinging paint beside me like a pro.

We worked sun-up to sun-down for four days straight, and somehow laughed through every paint-splattered second. This was her first time seeing me work in a public setting, and I think we both walked away with even more admiration for each other (and very sore arms).

The mural itself? It’s called “Blooming Unity.” I wanted to create something truly personal for this piece—something that celebrated the spirit of togetherness. I learned that the bridge where I was painting divides two neighborhoods in Memphis, so I designed a mural featuring two women—one Black, one white—whose flowing hair intertwines around native Tennessee wildflowers to form a heart. The piece is about connection, strength, and shared roots, even when there are visible divides.

Festivals like Paint Memphis are special because you get total creative freedom—no guidelines, just pure expression. It was exhilarating and a little scary to have that much artistic license, but seeing people stop and smile, talk to me about the meaning, and take photos in front of the mural made it all worthwhile.

More than the mural, it’s the people I’ll remember most. I met so many insanely talented artists from around the world—people who were kind, supportive, and wildly creative. I made new friends, traded stories, shared supplies, and felt like I was part of a big, chaotic, colorful art family.

And the best part? I got to do all of it with my mom by my side, brushes in hand.

Here’s to “Blooming Unity,” to Memphis, to paint-splattered memories—and to my mom, who somehow managed to be the heart of a mural festival she’d never even heard of a few months before.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. But next time, I’m bringing her a chair.