The Double Decker Arts Festival will celebrate its 27th anniversary April 26-27, 2024 and the festival now has its featured artist and artwork
Oxford native Jules Mikell’s artwork has been chosen as the official artwork by the Double Decker Arts Festival committee after deliberating over many talented entrants. Double Decker Arts Festival coordinator Lee Ann Stubbs said, “We had a lot of fantastic entries this year for the official artwork, but we are so excited to feature a local artist and showcase her unique style of art.”
Mikell has always been artistic although she was more drawn to the theatre where she has been heavily involved in Theatre Oxford. Mikell directed the production of “Almost, Maine” which was co-produced by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council in August at The Powerhouse. Mikell spends her days working at Square Books and enjoys meeting all the different people that come into the bookstore from all over the world. It was at Square Books where she got to use her artistic skills to design a sticker and really had a lot of fun doing it.
Until recently, Jules said that any art she created was primarily for herself. She was interested in digital art and had an appreciation for retro cartoons and anime, which served as inspiration. Although Mikell never took formal art classes, she occasionally did workshops with the Delta State Art camp in Cleveland, Mississippi and has enjoyed learning more about digital art. She hopes to continue doing her artwork and creating for others in the future.
Mikell said “I have lived here my whole life so it’s funny to think about all the times in the past I went to Double Decker, never realizing my art would get to be a part of it someday. It really makes me feel like a part of the community in a significant way.”
As the featured artist, Mikell’s artwork will appear on festival t-shirts, posters and flagpole banners that will be hung around the downtown Square leading up to the festival.
The Double Decker Arts Festival is scheduled for April 26-27, 2024. The official festival poster will be revealed during the Double Decker Arts Festival press conference set for January 30, 2024.
