Oyster Bloom
- Artist: Ham and Cheese Studio
- Material Used: Latex Exterior Paint
- Location: Route 13 Underpass at Shore Drive
Noticed something new on Shore Drive? In October 2021, Ham and Cheese Studio, a creative partnership between artists Chelsea Henery and Samantha Seezox, installed "Oyster Bloom," a set of murals under the Route 13 Shore Drive overpass!
“People are going to feel very proud of this entryway into the City of Virginia Beach,” said Stacey Shiflet, a Commissioner for the Bayfront Advisory Commission. “40 percent of our visitors come through and enter into Virginia Beach right here at this interchange.”
The murals depict several fun and exciting natural themes and present the viewer with an imaginative view of human relationships with nature.
“These murals are very particular to our Bay area,” said Nina Goodale, Public Art and Placemaking Coordinator for the Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs Department. “It’s creating that sense of welcome and awe upon entering, but it’s also creating a safer space for our community to walk and bike through."
The installation is also another example of how public art and placemaking transform spaces, as landscaping and additional lighting will accompany the murals in this lively gateway!
