Patience and persistence are often the linchpins of distinguishable art. 

MIDxMIDWST, Springfield's first mural art and culture festival, was resolute.

A collaboration of local and national artists, musicians and vendors helped create a vibrant and colorful downtown scene over the weekend, two years after the event was slated to bring a series of eye-popping murals to the Queen City.

The coronavirus pandemic prevented MIDxMIDWST — the brainchild of Springfield artist and Missouri State graduate Meg Wagler — from reaching fruition then.

It bloomed on Saturday and Sunday, the confluence of live musical performances and live paintings providing a unique, free-flowing ambiance. 

"It's been a long time coming," Wagler said. "This is about getting the community integrated in a really artistic experience, and (MIDxMDWST) is a very different approach to that."

While many of artists left town on Sunday, their art stayed.

Four sizable murals were displayed on the east side of downtown's efactory. Four more were painted on the northeast corner wall of Missouri State University's Park Central Office Building.

All painting materials and mechanical lifts were provided to the artists, who were often performing from considerable heights.

It was also a form of speed art. Muralists were given four days to finish their impressive pieces.

Kansas City muralist Isaac Tapia could be seen sweating under the scorching sun Saturday as he labored over a massive picture of an indigenous Hispanic woman, her eyes fixed on the festival below.

Tapia, who has done more than 50 murals in Midwest cities, accompanied the woman with an eagle, jaguar and southern lapwing, the national bird of Uruguay.

Each animal held a special cultural meaning, said Tapia, who typically partners with fellow painter Rodrigo Alvarez.

"Representing women is something we usually do a lot, especially brown women," "They're not represented as much as we think they are."

There were beer gardens, chess tables, pinball tables and other forms of entertainment as music from two separate stages could be heard throughout the downtown. 

An alley of vendors provided a contrast of offerings. Painter Alicia Mau could be seen painting on the stomach of fellow Springfield resident Kristen Smith, a colorful piece that included a growing baby.

"She is going to be a surrogate mother, so this is the perfect opportunity to manifest that," Mau said.

Many of the live art displays didn't include paint. 

Daniela Torres of Springfield Aerial Fitness led a group of women on stilts, showing off their balance and body control while in colorful wigs and attire.

The two-day event provided a cornucopia of creativity and expression. It's what Wagler had in mind when she decided to stay in Springfield after college and help invigorate the city's art scene.

"I think it's important to cross-pollinate those creative ecosystems,"  said Wagler, who painted a Missouri State-inspired bears mural with Christine Ruitzel. "Because it shows collaboration and it gets different styles and diversity into the background of the pieces that are being put out there."