Pelican Harbor Seabird Station hosts open call to create wildlife mural

The exterior blank wall is really big at the new wildlife hospital and education center. It is just waiting for a gorgeous mural, something Miami artists do so well.

Pelican Harbor Seabird Station has announced the Pelican Harbor Mural Project with an open call to artists to design and produce a large-scale mural on the eastern façade of the new building.

The finished work will measure 20 feet high by 55 feet wide. It will be visible to thousands of commuters each day from the Brightline train and 82nd Street. The new center is at 399 NE 82nd Terr., in Miami’s Oakland Grove neighborhood. The project is a PHSS partnership with Miami-Dade County District 5.

Local and regional artists are encouraged to apply by Oct. 30 at www.pelicanharbor.org/mural

Each year, PHSS treats more than 2,000 patients of some 150 species, with the goal of releasing healthy animals back into the ecosystem. Its mission is to provide the highest level of patient care, compassion and integrity while engaging the community in the importance of conservation.

Organizers hope the selected mural “will celebrate Miami’s native wildlife and inspire the community to care for and coexist with the species that share our city.”

The project is part of PHSS’s capital campaign to build a new center at the historic Little River Preserve.

The 2.6-acre property is 14 times the size of the current site on the NE 79th Street Causeway. It will feature state-of-the-art care facilities, expanded habitats, flight cages, an education center and a certified environmentally friendly design. The expansion will help meet the rising demand for wildlife rehabilitation and education and continue PHSS to share the legacy of its founders, Darlene and Harry Kelton.

The nonprofit is still fundraising, and construction is almost complete. The new center, projected to open in 2026, will also provide expanded opportunities for volunteer involvement.

Volunteers keep this world-class wildlife rescue, rehab, release and education center going. There are currently 75 who assist with outdoor enclosure cleaning, food preparation for patients and ambassador animals, as well as education and wildlife rescue efforts. More are always welcome. If you find an injured animal, call or text 305-751-9840 for help.

DIGITAL ART TO DEBUT AT FEST

South Florida’s III Points Festival brings together global innovators to showcase cutting-edge performances, installations and exhibitions. Founded in Miami, it is a celebration of music, art and technology.

This year, out of more than 200 submissions, Aes — The Miracle Ghost (TMG) and Yoni Yonson were among 15 awardees who will share a $10,000 grant.

The two South Florida-based artists are known for their distinctive work in digital animation and street art. Their new work, which blends art with urgent social commentary, will debut during the III Points festival Oct. 17–18. The Miami Art Society, led by founder Juan Pablo Sanchez, curated the call for submissions.

“We received over 200 proposals, each offering unique and innovative perspectives. Narrowing it down to just 15 was no easy task,” Sanchez said.

This was the first official collaboration for TMG and Yonson after years of creative parallel paths and friendship. Their winning digital animation depicts a ghost captured by a UAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon) beneath the night sky.

They said the piece “serves as a metaphor for the systemic deportation of undocumented immigrants in the United States.” It is especially powerful as our community celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month.

“The ghost represents the resilience of the human spirit, while the UAP symbolizes the system that seeks to erase and displace it,” the artists said. As immigrants and the children of immigrants, both TMG and Yonson said they infused the piece with personal meaning. It is a reflection of their lived experiences and those of communities affected by enforcement practices.

III Points spotlights creators whose work “bridges cultural, social, and creative boundaries.” Organizers hope the inclusion of TMG and Yonson “underscores the festival’s mission to showcase artists who pair aesthetic vision with social relevance.”

Tickets at www.iiipoints.com The selected digital works will be projected from 3 to 4 p.m. in an indoor gallery space throughout the festival weekend at Mana Wynwood.

YOUTH LEARN ABOUT MONEY

The 15th annual “I Got Bank! Youth Financial Literacy Essay & Art Contest” has 10 winners with three from South Florida. Each is awarded a $1,000 savings account in the event hosted by OneUnitedBank.

The 2025 winners are Jasmine Curd, 12, Blue Springs, MO; Andrew Elus, 11, Miami; Rusty Fisher, 12, Apple Valley, CA; Jai Irby, 12, Boston, MA; Brandon Littlejohn, 12, Newnan, GA; Jalonie Lue Shue, 12, Miami; Zoë Madison Orndorff, 9, Homestead; Arfa Mohamed, 8, Rocklin, CA; Alanna Oguadimma, 9, Milton, MA; and Jacob Phillips, 8, Missouri City, TX.

Each winner explored their financial literacy journey and how it will help them and their families.

The panel of judges included Teri Williams, OneUnitedBank’s president & chief operating officer, and Sherri Brewer, the bank’s senior vice president and chief retail officer. “In 2025, we saw growth in children’s understanding of money, including the cost of food and other necessities. They expressed a desire to help their families, which may reflect the current economy. We are proud to ignite family conversations about money, which will improve their financial wellbeing,” Williams said.

Williams wrote “I Got Bank! What My Grandad Taught Me About Money” (Beckham), after discovering “the lack of focus on educating urban youth about financial literacy.”

The youth contest is part of a larger initiative to make financial literacy a core value. Visit the OneUnited Bank Financial Literacy Blog for more.

Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.

This story was originally published October 1, 2025 at 3:56 PM.