Art Lives in Panama City, Florida

Panama City, Florida’s vibrant art community tells the city’s story well. For some places, art is new. But here it began some 13,000 years ago when primitive people began drawing designs on the pottery found in the long-gone mounds that served as their homes.

The Native Spirit Museum and Gallery displays some of the ancient artwork. In addition, the museum showcases native clothing and jewelry created by present-day Native Americans. Ben Liggin, Native Spirit’s owner, provides knowledgeable insights into the ancient artwork and the people who once lived in what is now Panama City.

Floriopolis Shares Art from the Heart

The art complex, Floriopolis creates many of the murals found on Panama City’s Mural Trail. In the complex, artists of many different mediums work, and young and old can create a project of their own even if they have never created a work of art before. When we entered the small building, local artist, Krista Eggleston was in her wheelchair working with two kids intent on creating their own projects.

Krista’s main medium is watercolors and her ability to paint from the heart was evident in a portrait of a lovable-looking Catahoula doggie with her tongue lolling out “That was my dog,” said Krista. “I lost her just about two weeks ago. She was the most loving dog.”

Floriopolis is also responsible for the Janie’s Fence project in the heart of the Historic St. Andrews Neighborhood. A unique outdoor gallery, Janie’s Fence features public art hanging on a wooden fence. The theme changes monthly. Buildings beside Janie’s Fence feature murals of horses – each with a unique theme. Lightside reveals a peaceful daylight view with a beautiful silver horse surrounded by earth and sea creatures and two humans enjoying themselves. In contrast, Darkside depicts a nighttime earth and sea divided by a black stallion seemingly galloping directly into the viewers.

Bay Arts Alliance

Based in Historic Downtown at Panama City Center for the Arts, Bay Arts Alliance is another big promoter of the arts. Outside, the curved side of the building provides the canvas for Flutter By, a mural of bright pink and orange butterflies. A few have fluttered over to the adjourning building. The center features a collection of revolving art, often created by locals.

Panama City’s Mural Collection

Murals decorate most of the business walls in Panama City. The Historic Downtown Panama City’s Welcome Wall features eight murals by different artists. The most colorful, Bird of Paradise highlight shades of bright orange, deep green and purple. They are all beautiful works of art, but my favorites are Pelican and Sea Dreams.

On Tom’s Hot Dogs, you’ll find a restored Coca-Cola mural dating back to the 1940s when the building served a hardware store. The project took hundreds of hours of work by two local artists, Skip Bondur and Logan Flint.

The mural Honey Bee runs the full length of the wall of The Craft Beer Empourium next to Millie’s Restaurant. Sitting in the courtyard dining on great food and listening to talented musicians playing as you watch the cute bees, their hive, and the flowers they pollinate, feels almost heavenly.

Just down the street, History Class, a brewery that is part history museum, takes art to a different level. Atop its roof is a yellow airplane with red, white, and blue trim that used to reside on top of the now defunct Smitty’s Barbecue & Salad Bar.

The gorgeous sunsets Panama City is known for are featured in many of the murals. Bayou Joe’s, part of the oldest marina in Panama City, highlights a colorful sunset with a sailboat on its front entrance. The Panama City Postcard at the Chamber of Commerce highlights a sunset view. A beautiful one with an alligator, an egret, and some kayakers exists right across from St. Andrews Slice House.
The largest mural in Bay County, Heather Clement’s 100-foot-long Still We Rise represents the community’s resilience.

Art Tells the Story of a Community

Some of the art tells the story of a community that refuses to be defeated by nature. When Hurricane Michael killed many of the trees, chainsaw artist Chad Gainey turned the dead trees into beautiful works of art that live on. You’ll find some of this unique art in Oaks by the Bay Park.

To create your own art, check out Atelier which offers a custom candle-pouring experience in Historic Downtown Panama City. Choose from over 50 different fragrance oils while you enjoy a signature mocktail, beer, wine or cocktail in the historic building or the Parisian-style cocktail garden.
Another artsy experience, the LH Bead Gallery not only sells bead items, they teach you how to make your own art with beads.

Experience the weird side of art in El Weirdos. Enjoy a fish taco, or an on-site brewed beer surrounded by the weirdest art you have ever seen, including an alien with his spaceship guarding the beer taps. You could spend hours in the restroom where weird art abounds and you can’t tell the real fixtures from the painted ones. My favorite was the psychedelic vehicle on the patio. It looks like a 1950s-era station wagon painted in vivid colors and symbols with a palm plant growing from its raised hood area and giant teeth on its open rear hatch. Weird, but fun!

Panama City’s Art Expanded

The performing arts also secure a place in Panama City’s art scene. Built in 1936, the Art Deco Martin Theater – originally named the Ritz – is an Art Deco-style theater. Currently undergoing renovation, it will feature live shows and music when it reopens. Many of Panama City’s restaurants offer live music in their courtyards. The city hosts an annual Songwriter Festival in November.

Thistle and Thorn offers a place to catch the creative musical vibe. Housed in a former theater, the establishment features tables with an area for songwriters/musicians along one side and a dark wood, marble-topped bar with three gold-framed mirrors reflecting antique chandeliers on the other side. On Thursday, the bar hosts songwriter sessions, and on Friday, open mike nights and Tea & Tarot readers. The night we visited, Lucky Mud, a duo composed of Mike and Maggie McKinney, were playing their Swampy Tonk and Folkabilly songs.

Sierra Latham – the owner of Thistle and Thorn – is also a tattoo artist. As a result, in the rear of the building, The Prominent Goat serves as a speakeasy – not a bar, but a tattoo parlor. At one time, Panama City restricted tattoo parlors. Now the law recognizes tattoos as art protected as freedom of speech.

Art for Your Heart

The art in Panama City touches even the hardest heart, which is why the vivid blue, red, and orange sculpture outside the visitor’s center that says “LOVE PC” is so appropriate. You’ll even find tiny murals on the post supporting the building.

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