New Mural at the Pool:
Get Involved
We are excited to announce the addition of a vibrant mural at the Poplar Springs Swim & Racquet Club pool area! This artistic project aims to enhance our community space and create an inviting atmosphere for all our members.
How You Can Participate
We invite all club members, families, and local artists to get involved in this creative endeavor. Here’s how you can contribute:
Paint and Material Donations: We would love to have In-Kind donations of paint and paint supplies so our artist is able to start as soon as she has the supplies. Used or open but in new or good condition supplies are welcome!
Volunteer Opportunities: Join us for painting days! We will host painting sessions where volunteers can help bring the selected mural design to life. Keep an eye on our bulletin board for dates and times.
Sponsorship: If you own a local business or would like to sponsor this project, we would love to hear from you. Your support will help cover materials.
Please email PoplarSpringsSwim@gmail.com
Community Voting
Once we have received all design options, we will hold a community vote to select the final design. All members are encouraged to participate!
Let’s come together to create a beautiful and unique mural that will be a source of pride for our club community. We look forward to seeing your creativity shine!
Donate Here
Join the Movement
Imagine a vibrant mural greeting you and your family every time you visit Poplar Springs Pool. This mural will not only enhance the beauty of our beloved pool area but also create a joyful and inviting atmosphere for all members. Your donation will help us transform our space into a community focal point that inspires creativity and connection.
By supporting this project, you contribute to a shared vision of unity and fun. The mural will depict themes of summer, teamwork, and leisure, adding a lively splash of color that reflects our club’s spirit. It will serve as a backdrop for countless memories—celebrating birthdays, family gatherings, and casual hangouts with friends.
Additionally, this mural will facilitate community engagement, providing opportunities for local artists to showcase their talent and for families to participate in the process. Your generosity will not only beautify our club but also promote local artistry, fostering a sense of pride within our community.
Join us in making Poplar Springs Swim & Racquet Club an even more enjoyable and welcoming place. By donating to the mural project, you help create a lasting impact that enhances our space for current and future members. Let’s paint a brighter, more vibrant future together!
About the Artist
An accomplished artist currently resides in our community with her active duty husband. She is in the process of completing her master's degree in fine art and is dedicated to giving back to the neighborhood. To enhance the atmosphere at Poplar Springs Pool, she is generously donating her time and talent to create a stunning mural that will beautify our pool area. Her passion for art and commitment to community enrichment are sure to leave a lasting impression.
Katy Kemalyan
Artist website: www.tankhousestudios.com
I moved to Meridian in 2023 with my husband Paul. This is my second move with him as he completes his Navy career. Our previous stops have been Kingsville, TX & Lemoore, CA.
Upon moving, I was glad to discover Mississippi State University’s MFA program in Historic Preservation in Starkville- a degree that combines my interests in painting, art history and the built environment.
Throughout my art school education and our cross-country moves, I’ve found public art to be the most fulfilling expressive outlet AND a solution to everyday problems. Not painting something small to go in a private home but painting BIG to brighten up and draw attention to an underused or neglected part of the community. Murals are art in service of community and an example of leveraging limited resources to realize greater potential; it's amazing to see what just a gallon of paint, a design, and a blank wall can do for a business or neighborhood.
I think all military spouses can understand this idea of leveraging potential, we don’t choose where we go but we’re eager to get involved and make real connections during our limited time in each place.
I have been lucky to participate in around a dozen mural projects in the past. My thesis project focuses on the economic and cultural benefits of public art, especially the techniques and processes that go into them. This is where the importance of volunteers comes in: although a mural by one artist is wonderful and effective, incorporating those that will use and enjoy the space in the process underscores the idea of shared space. If you help paint it, it feels more like your space! That’s what we need for continued, sustainable investment and growth. I also especially love seeing younger volunteers experience the empowering excitement of seeing their marks on the wall and witness the corresponding ripple effects through the community. Painting days are the best days, I’m so excited to get outside and paint this Spring!
My ideas for the mural design at Poplar Springs Pool & Courts draw on bright 90’s sports graphics, elements of David Hockney’s pool series, and local flora and fauna. I’ll combine these ideas to complement, but brighten up, the pool’s current color scheme and pine tree surroundings while aiming for a balance of detail and maximum coverage. Poplar Springs Pool & Courts has existed in the neighborhood for over 30 years, I hope that all the restoration projects happening there this spring can help usher it into a new, exciting chapter.