Mural in Gulfport vandalized, community comes together to support artist

GULFPORT, Fla. - A brand-new mural that featured local dogs of Gulfport was vandalized, and now the community is coming together to support the artist, Alex Clawson and RSK Murals.

Clawson was commissioned by Burton Holdings to take on all the artwork at the new Stormrunners Tavern and BarK Tiki Dog Bar on the corner of Shore and Beach Blvd, where the old Caddy's was located.

"The fence was just going to be black, but we were like, let’s just go for it," Clawson said. "So I took it out of my budget just to do that wall in the first place that wasn’t even part of our plan."

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He explained over 60 residents sent him photos of their dogs, hoping to be featured in it. So, he invested $3,000 in paint materials to bring it to life.

On Wednesday morning, Burton Holdings and Clawson learned what happened to the mural overnight on social media.

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"Someone came and took a gray roller of paint and just kind of splattered it all over the mural," said Dave Burton, Managing Partner of Burton Holdings. "When we saw pictures, we were obviously very disappointed and upset, flabbergasted."

Clawson and his team offered to repaint it for free. That was until the community learned of the crime. Employees at O'Maddy's next door put out a collection jar for Clawson and his team.

"I’ve painted all over the country, I’ve painted in different countries, this is just amazing," he shared. "I’ve never painted in a community that has come together so strong and has felt so strongly about a mural."

To show his appreciation, Clawson dedicated two panels of the new mural to residents and their dogs, where pooches can stamp their paw prints in paint.

"I’m even getting a plaque made; this is mural is dedicated to all of the residents of Gulfport and their dogs for all of the continuous support," explained Clawson.

The four-person team at RSK Murals were back at the property to continue work to restore the mural on Monday. 

"As long as I'm out here doing artwork, no matter what it is, I know that I'm doing what I love, and I'm also giving back to the community, spreading culture, a lot of things," Muralist Zac Schafer said. 

The team is working around the clock to finish the piece. At night, they are using a projector to outline images. 

"And then we come back in the daytime like what you see I'm doing right now and kind of get the details and fill that out," he said.

Schafer believes the second mural will be better than the first. 

"At the end of the day, you just helped us make a better project," he said. "If anything, I'm happy that it happened at the end of the day, because I didn't think it would turn into all of this."

Stormrunners Tavern is slated to open for business in the spring.