VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — You voted, and the results for the favorite design to become the new mural at Rudee Loop has been chosen.
“Prismatic Play” by Norfolk artist Aimee Bruce is the winner. It depicts a crowd of octopuses enjoying various activities, including eating ice cream and holding a beach ball.
Bruce was one of the four finalists who submitted design proposals for the new mural. The Virginia Beach Office of Cultural Affairs asked citizens to vote on their favorite out of the four.
The public vote period took place between May 17 and May 27. Over 4,500 people voted and Bruce received 45% of them.
The office put out an open call for artists across the country to submit mural design proposals back in April and narrowed it down to four.
The name Aimee Bruce may sound familiar because her designs have been selected for artwork across the city several times before — including the stair mural at Mt. Trashmore and the mural at the Princess Anne Rec Center, just to name a couple.
Here’s her artist statement about the new design for Rudee Loop:
“Prismatic Play depicts a crowd of cephalopods (octopus/squid) enjoying activities one might encounter at the Oceanfront (i.e., eating pizza and ice cream, putting on sunglasses, playing with beach balls). I represented the ever-changing beach community through the adaptive color-changing octopuses. I believe there are more positive interactions to be had as the Oceanfront becomes a more diversified, better place.”
-Aimee Bruce