Gulfport Paints the Town Gecko

Art comes in many forms, particularly in Gulfport and especially during Gecko season. 

But people who love Gecko World – basically, the entire town– had to get extra creative this year. From mailboxes and signs to ornaments and more traditional artwork, Gulfport’s party of the year may be canceled, but the town is awash in geckos. 

The 2020 Gecko Art Show was slated to be a bigger part of the festivities than in years past with a designated art show and even live music. While that will have to wait until next year, Gulfport artists and residents rose to the task to paint the town gecko, with the help of a suggestion and two Facebook groups, Mask of Covid19 and Art Challenge. 

“The Art Challenge used the prompt ‘reptile’ to encourage local artists to create art for their yards and homes after Jon Ziegler proposed a gecko art project. We had several great pieces that can be seen around town,” said Art Challenge admin Margo Dalgetty.

Likewise, Mask of Covid19 artists were looking for a new focus and decided it was the perfect time to have some fun with geckos.

Debbie Stevenson, an admin of the group, said, “There were so many different mediums used, including Styrofoam board, aluminum and more. Everyone’s imagination works differently. It was a fun thing to see people’s creativity.”

Click on the gallery below to see the many colors of Gecko in Gulfport.

Courtesy Jon Ziegler.

Courtesy Zora Debo.

Courtesy Jon Ziegler.

Courtesy Beth Stombaugh.

Courtesy John Shevlin.

Courtesy Denise Keegan O’Hara.

Courtesy Jon Ziegler.

Courtesy Marianne Wysocki.

Courtesy Margo Dalgetty.

Courtesy Julie Armstrong.

Courtesy Leslee Cramer.

Courtesy Denise Keegan O’Hara.

Courtesy Susan Garcia.

Courtesy John Shevlin.

Courtesy Jody Robinson.

Courtesy Kim Bonney.

Courtesy Marianne Wysocki.

Courtesy Zora Debo.

Courtesy Denise Keegan O’Hara.

Courtesy Daniel Fishback.

Courtesy Holly Herold.

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