While driving through downtown Lake Worth, I spotted this historical mural on the side of Awe…read moreFlowers, a local floral shop. Its subject immediately caught my attention, so I had to stop and take a closer look. The mural proudly proclaims, "Lake Worth Where the Tropics Begin." The motto of Lake Worth Beach is "Where the Tropics Begin," a reference to the city's location in South Florida, near the transition between subtropical and tropical climates. The slogan brings to mind a city with palm trees, warm climate, and a tropical atmosphere. This mural was painted in 2011 by self-taught Lake Worth artist Karen Hetzer. It is packed with references to the city's history. At the center is a portrait of General William Jenkins Worth (1794-1849), an American military officer who served in the War of 1812, the Second Seminole War, and the Mexican-American War. Lake Worth Lagoon, the city of Lake Worth Beach, and Worth Avenue in Palm Beach are all named in his honor. To Worth's right is an image of a barefoot mailman. The Barefoot Mailmen were U.S. postal workers who delivered mail along South Florida's coastline from 1885 to 1893, walking barefoot along the beach between Palm Beach and Miami. The roughly 68-mile route took three days each way. Other details depicted in the mural include the Lake Worth Casino, the railroad, Town Hall, and the city's first school. Looking closely, I also spotted a small portrait of George Sherman Childs (1883-1960), an early pioneer and prominent architect who played an important role in Lake Worth's development. I love how this mural celebrates Lake Worth's history while incorporating so many fascinating local details.My only disappointment is that such a wonderful tribute to the city's history is tucked away hidden in an alley, where it's easy to miss. If I hadn't been stuck waiting for a light to change I would have missed it. A mural this interesting deserves to be seen.

While walking through Delray Beach's Pineapple Grove Arts District, this brightly colored caught my…read moreattention immediately and I had to stop for a closer look. I love the beautiful colors and its tribute to Delray Beach's history has a major supplier of pineapples at the turn of the century. Delray Beach was once a center of pineapple cultivation. By the early 1900s, pineapples had become the city's primary crop, with trainloads of the fruit shipped north to markets across the country. Japanese farming pioneers of the Yamato Colony, including George Morikami, also cultivated pineapples in the area. By the mid-1910s and 1920s, however, drainage projects that lowered the water table, plant diseases, and increasing competition caused the once-thriving pineapple industry to decline. Although the pineapple fields are long gone, their legacy lives on in the name Pineapple Grove Arts District which was once a genuine pineapple grove and an important center for processing the fruit. Today the neighborhood is filled with boutiques, bistros, and galleries. In 2008, mural artist Anita Lovitt created the mural "Dancing Pineapples' on the east wall of the Chloe Building, now known as The Deb. For the next 13 years, anyone approaching the archway to Pineapple Grove on Northeast Second Avenue was greeted by the playful dancing pineapples, a symbol of hospitality and a warm welcome. In the summer of 2021, water damage required repairs to the building, including new stucco and windows. The work left gray patches on the wall, ruining the mural. A new replacement mural was commissioned by the artist Grabster, real name is Marcus Borges, a 40-year-old artist originally from Mineola, Long Island, who now lives in Fort Lauderdale. The name came from his teenage years immersed in New York's hip-hop culture. He is a Brazilian born, South Florida based street artist, muralist, and abstract graffiti writer known for his retro futuristic style, geometric designs, and tropical color schemes. He has collaborated with major brands like Red Bull, Formula 1, and OnlyFans. Lee Cohen, who owns and manages the building with his family. The proposal was approved by Delray Beach's Public Art Advisory Board on March 27 and the mural was paid for by the Cohen family. The new mural is thirty percent larger than the previous one and fills the entire 88 by 25 foot wall with colorful pineapples, palm trees, and seabirds. It took a week and half to complete the mural with some done by roller and the rest by freehand and spray paint. I love how the bold color choice captures the vibrant energy of Delray Beach. Although Dancing Pineapples is no more, Grabster has replaced the mural with something equally whimsical and captivating. It is a great addition to downtown Delray Beach. .

While walking along the shoreline in Sunset Park in West Palm Beach, I discovered Sun Salutations,…read morepublic artwork created by artist Vito Di Bari in 2021.He has created art in 25 countries worldwide from interactive 23 foot installations to underwater coral artworks in the Gulf of Mexico. The sculpture was inspired by the official seal and logo of West Palm Beach. It was crafted from water-jet-cut, powder-coated aluminum and dichroic tempered glass to create a celebration of light, movement, renewal, and the natural beauty of South Florida. What makes this artwork special is its interactive design. The sculpture rotates completely on its own axis, continually changing its appearance as the light shifts throughout the day. Sunlight passes through the central glass medallion, catching and refracting the rays into colorful reflections. It is especially captivating at sunset when it showcases a beautiful harmony between art and nature.

Codes is a public art sculpture located in Flagler Banyan Park created by artist Joe O'Connell,…read morefeaturing colorful, mid-century-inspired glass spheres embedded in stainless steel. It is a notable interactive installation that engages West Palm Beach through art.

I discovered the colorful Codes in Flagler Banyan Park in West Palm Beach. This public art…read moresculpture was created by artist Joe O' Connell. O'Connell founded Creative Machines in his garage in 1995. Creative Machines designs and fabricates interactive experiences for museums. Creative Machines mission is "to create objects and environments that encourage creativity, support social interaction, and inspire self-confidence." In 2004 Creative Machines began making interactive sculptures and public art. They manufacture sculptures, interactive exhibits, and ball machines. I have previously seen their sculpture Cyclorama on the UCF campus in Orlando. Codes was created in 2019. It is made from glass spheres in colors meant to evoke mid century art glass and beach glass. The spheres are set into stainless steel rectangles of varying heights. The rectangles form a kind of outdoor wall at the perimeter of the park so that people feel like they are in an outdoor room but it is open so people can walk through it. According to Creative Machines "Codes spells out a message as you go north to south. Some pairs of codes may appear to be roughly the same north-south distance along Flagler but whichever part is northernmost counts. Each code has a number between 1 and 26 encoded in it, and that number stands for a letter in the alphabet. Each code has a long leg and a short leg. There are small, medium, and large spheres. The number of medium spheres (of any color) in the long leg counts for 10 and the number of medium spheres (of any color) in the short leg counts as 1."

I don't typically find public art inside a shopping mall, but that's one of the things that makes…read moreThe Gardens Mall so special. In fact, It is the only major shopping mall in Palm Beach County with commissioned artwork permanently displayed on site. While grabbing a drink in the food court, I couldn't help but notice the gorgeous mural wrapping around the upper walls near the ceiling. It tells the story of Florida's history, and if you've read any of my reviews, you know that's exactly the kind of thing that grabs my attention. Installed in 2007, the mural, The Story of Florida, was created by Chicago based artist Augustina Droze. Her portfolio includes public art commissions for The Forbes Company, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Tucson Pima Arts Council, and Nagpur International Airport, among many others. Speaking about the project, Droze said, "I'm an artist for the people, and what better place to find a good cross section of people than at a mall?" Touché! The mural was commissioned as part of the mall's multimillion dollar renovation, which was completed the following year. Taking more than nine months to create, it guides visitors through Florida's history, beginning with the Indigenous peoples and the arrival of the Spanish explorers. As the story unfolds, you'll also find scenes of the Everglades, Henry Flagler's railroad, early pioneers, and the rise of Florida's citrus industry. Every section is filled with colorful details. I really enjoyed taking my time to study all of the images while sipping my drink. Public art has been shown to enrich commercial spaces by creating memorable experiences that encourage people to linger and spend money. All I can definitely say is that the mural adds something special to a typical mall food court.

Endurance is a public art piece located in the West Settlers Historic District in Delray Beach…read more Originally called the sands for it's sandy soil, it was established in 1894 as Delray Beach"s first African American community. Settlers came from north and west Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina in order to work in the agriculture industry. The neighborhood is located from NW 2nd Ave to NE 6th Ave. Houses are in the frame vernacular style, bungalow, and mission revival styles that were popular in the 1920's. The neighborhood was added to the Local Register of Historic Places in 1997. Endurance is a 12 foot steel and glass mosaic public art work created by artist Cheryl Foster and installed in June of 2012 to celebrate this community. It was placed in the West Atlantic Plaza which was renamed in August of 2012 in honor of Elizabeth "Libby" Jackson Wesley, a longtime resident and community activist. On the back of the art piece is Cheryl's mission statement which tells how the piece was inspired by Delray Beach's early Afro American and Caribbean Pioneers who brought their agricultural and fishing skills from their homelands to Delray Beach. The art piece features a woman carrying a basket of harvested food on the left and a man fishing on the right. The piece was paid for by the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. I discovered this piece while grabbing lunch next door at the Bear Snack Shack. I knew quite a bit about the history of this area and was delighted to discover this piece of art work that celebrates the contributions made by this community of settlers as well as their rich cultural history.

I have always loved this pineapple sculpture in front of the South County Courthouse on Atlantic…read moreAvenue in Delray Beach. The Pineapple Bench is a hand painted ceramic mosaic created in 2007 by Miami based husband and wife artists Carlos Alves and JC Carroll. The couple has worked together for many years, creating public art from the initial concept and design through fabrication and installation. The project was funded through Palm Beach County's Art in Public Places program. The pineapple was chosen as the subject for Delray Beach because it was once a major pineapple growing center. By the early 1900s, pineapples had become the city's primary crop, with trainloads shipped north to markets across the country. Japanese farming pioneers of the Yamato Colony, including George Morikami, also cultivated pineapples in the area but by the mid 1910s and 1920s, however, drainage projects that lowered the water table, plant diseases, and increasing market competition caused the once thriving pineapple industry to decline. The crop's legacy lives on in the name of Delray Beach's Pineapple Grove Arts District which used to be where the pineapples were processed.. The Pineapple Bench is part of the Delray Beach Art Trail, a collection of murals, sculptures, galleries, and public installations created to showcase the city's creative spirit. Art lovers can explore the trail on a self-guided tour or join the evening First Friday Art Walk. What I especially like about this piece is its interactivity. This isn't art that you simply look at, you can actually sit on it. The bench combines artistic expression with a functional practicality. Its bright mosaic design has made it a local landmark and a fun photo spot while adding a little more color and character to Atlantic Avenue.

I discovered this beautiful mural while visiting Catherine Strong Park in Delray Beach. Created in…read more2021 by local artist Anthony Hernandez, It Takes a Village honors neighborhood heroes Albert and Beatrice Tyson who helped to foster the sense of community that has long surrounded the park. Albert and Beatrice Tyson always kept a watchful eye on the children playing in the park. Their presence gave parents peace of mind, knowing that someone was always looking out for their children. The mural was commissioned by the Delray Beach Public Art Advisory Board and painted along the I-95 concrete sound walls at Catherine Strong Park. Its purpose was not only to beautify the space, but also to recognize the unsung neighborhood residents who looked out for children playing in the park. The City of Delray Beach unveiled It Takes a Village on September 17, 2021, honoring the Tysons for their kindness and dedication to the community. The mural serves as a touching reminder that it truly takes a village to create a safe and caring neighborhood. Artist Anthony Hernandez was born in Havana, Cuba, raised in Chicago, and later made South Florida his home. His work is primarily created with oil and acrylic on canvas, although he has increasingly incorporated murals into his artistic practice. He describes his art as being rooted in the idea that everything is connected and that our actions and intentions whether good or bad create a chain reaction. His philosophy is summed up in the belief that "art and life go hand in hand; it is about decisions, not conditions." It Takes a Village is more than a colorful addition to Catherine Strong Park. It tells a story about community, caring neighbors and the people who quietly make a difference in the lives of others. I love that this mural preserves the memory of Albert and Beatrice Tyson while reminding visitors that looking out for one another is what makes a neighborhood feel like home.