In Dog Days of Summer, artist Leigh Ann Agee celebrates the joys of summertime in Johnson City with playful, whimsical imagery featuring – you guessed it – dogs! The various dog breeds in the design can be seen splashing, biking, picnicking, skateboarding, playing Frisbee, and engaging in all the fun activities that are available in the surrounding area as well as other parts of the city. On either end of the mural, several curious cats watch the proceedings from afar.
After being awarded the commission, Agee teamed up with mosaic artist Melissa Wiley to bring a mixed media component to the project. Wiley designed and fabricated mosaic elements and installed them into the mural. Objects such as the fire hydrant, sun, and butterfly were all completed with mosaic tiles. The mural was painted in Agee’s studio on 54 panels of pellon fabric, and the panels were then installed on the wall. The mural was completed in May of 2023.
The mural themes provided for inspiration were “summertime”, “quench”, and “fun”. These themes were intended to spark creative ideas related to activities that occur in the surrounding area at places such as Legion Street Pool, the Tweetsie Trail, and a future dog park and pump track. Agee is a pet owner herself and even incorporated some of her own furry friends into her design.
Agee has been creating murals for over 30 years. She is an award-winning artist based in Tennessee, and her playful designs often evoke a sense of happiness in viewers. She is also known for her Moon Bound Girl artworks and book series, which encourage girls and women to pursue their passions. Learn more on Agee’s website at: https://leighannagee.com/