Noisy Waters Festival reveals 2024 winners; new murals will be popping up in Bellingham
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Last month the second Annual Noisy Waters Mural Festival served as a showcase for a variety of talented artists who competed for mural spots across Bellingham.
The festival had almost 200 artists apply to participate, but only 25 artists from Europe and North America were selected, and eight finalists were given the opportunity to paint murals during the event. After the murals are completed, festival guests can vote for their favorite mural, and the top three artists will receive commissions for large murals in Bellingham, according to previous reporting by The Bellingham Herald.
Five artists have been chosen as the winners and will receive various awards. Only the three top prize winners were awarded mural spots.
The grand prize winner was Joey Rose, an artist from Emeryville, Calif., who received a prize of an $18,500 commission for a mural at 1122 Cornwall Ave.
The first-place winner was Nora Buhn of San Francisco, who received a $15,000 commission for a mural at 1215 Railroad Ave.
In second place was Martin Plag of the Netherlands, who received a $6,500 commission for a mural at 200 NW Chestnut St.
In third place was John McPartland, an artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia, who received a $1,000 cash prize.
The last award given was the Artist’s Choice Award, which was awarded to Paige Bowman, an artist from Vancouver, B.C., who received a $250 cash prize.
The prize walls are set to be installed in May 2025, according to the festival’s website.
