You warm mY heart is a mural by artist Leo Gomez that is a part of the creative infusion Disney…read moreSprings Art Walk. The pieces area spread through the popular Disney springs outlet shopping and entertainment district. This particular piece uses all warm coloring shades and features the positive message of "you warm my heart". Overall a really good piece that is part of a cool art initiative in an area that will attract a lot of viewers.

The Alligator Wrestler statue in Heritage Square Park is a beloved spot for visitors to take a…read morephoto. It's whimsical subject matter and depiction of history makes it is one of my favorite public artworks in downtown Orlando. You can find it at the entrance to the Orange County Regional History Center. In 1857, Orlando's city limits were platted in Heritage Square Park. Alligator Wrestler pays homage to Orlando's lawless, cow town past rooted in cattle ranching, agriculture, and citrus. Originally known for cattle, Orlando evolved from a small trading post in the 1830's into a bustling cattle and citrus center by the 1890's. In the early 2000's, Alligator Wrestler was sculpted by artist Scott Shaffer, a Colorado-based sculptor known for detailed, realistic wildlife and nature-themed bronze work. This sculpture was inspired by a famous 1884 photograph depicting legendary local figure Bunk Baxter wrestling an alligator. According to legend, Bunk would come to Orlando on Saturdays in the mid 1880's and wrestle an alligator in the middle of a dirt road, which would become Orange Avenue. A picture of Bunk and his alligator companion became an iconic image of Orlando's colorful, wild past. Now Bunk and the alligator are a part of many people's treasured memories of visiting modern day Orlando.

I have driven by this statue literally fir decades and this is the first time that I saw it up…read moreclose and personal. This statue reminds us all that there was a Florida before the theme parks and it was a wild and often dangerous place. It is not a huge statue by any means, pretty much life-sized, but it does make a statement and show us what Florida was like before we built it up. Our history is important to us and we must remember it.

I have always admired this sculpture at the entrance to Loch Haven Park off of Princeton in Orlando…read morebut I only recently learned about its connection to space. Loch Haven Park is located between three lakes and is home to the art and science museums, a firefighting museum and two theaters. Rocket Thrower is a 1963 bronze sculpture by American sculptor Donald De Lue (October 5, 1897- August 26, 1988). It resides in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens New York City. De Lue was a sculptor best known for his public monuments. He studied at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and for five years in Paris. In 1941, he won a competition to create sculpture for the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse Building in Philadelphia. De Lue's won many awards throughout is acclaimed art career and his works can be found in many museums across America. Rock Thrower was created for the 1964 World's Fair to celebrate man's entrance into space. The statue depicts a God like man crouching on one leg as he launches a small sphere into the sky with trail of flames. His left hand reaches for the sky as a swirl of stars encircle the path of the rocket. De Lue explained the work as "the spiritual concept of man's relationship to space and his venturesome spirit backed up by all the powers of his intelligence for the exploration of a new dimension." At the time it was released not all of the art critics were as enamored of it as I am. This replica of Rocket Thrower was commissioned for Loch Haven Park but was modified before it was installed in 1987. On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard. Stars representing each of the Challenger Space Shuttle Astronauts were added to the tail of the comet. This touching tribute to the Challenger crew is a poignant reminder of their sacrifice and of Orlando's connection to the space program.

HeartandSoul is a mural by a local artist that is a part of the creative infusion Disney Springs…read moreArt Walk. The pieces area spread through the popular Disney springs outlet shopping and entertainment district. This particular piece features a very brightly colored flower on a blue background. It is kinda hard to make out what it is. But is very lovely to look At. Overall a really good piece that is part of a cool art initiative in an area that will attract a lot of viewers.

Take Flight is one of 9 sculptures that are part of See Art Orlando, a permanent contemporary…read morecollection of art that was unveiled by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the See Art Orlando Board of Directors on November 18, 2013. The art project was launched by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and art lover Jennifer Quigley. They hoped that adding public art to downtown Orlando would bring pride, boost the economy, and strengthen the city's cultural core. The art is mainly displayed around Lake Eola. Take Flight is on the north side of the water's edge of Lake Eola, It is by Kentucky based artist Douwe Blumberg and was sponsored by the Darden restaurant group. Before becoming a full time sculptor, Blumberg worked as a horse trainer for 18 years. Since deciding to pursue art full time he has created 200 private and public commissions and won numerous awards, Referencing his art, Bloomberg has said "When I do a piece, my goal is to capture something special in it. I'm not interested in pretty, I want a spark of life, movement, drama, that something that will make you look twice...that power." The sculpture Take Flight depicts a 40 foot long flock of birds as they take off in flight into the sky. The sculpture is made from cast alloy and welded together to create the sculpture. It is meant to capture the spirit of freedom and transcendent joy. I love nature so I am really drawn to this piece. As an avid bird watcher and photographer I am always trying to catch them in flight or landing. I like how this piece is inspired by the real nature that exists around the lake. At night it is lit up for another stunning perspective.

"Tale Flight" is a sculpture by Douwe Blumberg and was gifted to the City of Orlando by Darden (the…read morerestaurant group that brings you Olive Garden, Red Lobster and more). It sits on the edge of Lake Eola and it's a nice addition to Lake Eola Park. Lake Eola park has a lot of great art and this particular piece is no exception. Lake Eola Park is by far my favorite park in Orlando. Obviously, the center point is Lake Eola, however, it is pieces of art like this that just adds Lake Eola Park's personality. I would definitely check out this park and this particular piece of art.

While visiting Centennial Park in downtown St. Cloud, a historical mural on the side of a nearby…read morebuilding caught my interest. Titled "Seminole Land Investment Company," this mural is part of the St. Cloud Historic Mural Trail, a collection of paintings that celebrates and preserves significant moments in St. Cloud's history. The trail is also connected to a larger statewide network that links Florida communities through public mural art. The Seminole Land Investment Company mural is a picture story of how the company was established by the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), the fraternal organization of Union Civil War veterans. The organization sought a location to establish a retirement colony for veterans, ultimately selecting St. Cloud for its mild climate and fertile farmland. In 1909, the G.A.R. purchased 35,000 acres of the former Disston Sugar Plantation, laying the foundation for what would become St. Cloud. The organization promoted the community through its newspaper, encouraging aging veterans to settle there. Building lots sold for about $50, and many new arrivals came by rail, living in tents while their homes were being built. Upon arrival, veterans picked up their property deeds at the Seminole Land & Investment Company office. Because of its unique beginnings, St. Cloud earned the nickname "Soldier City." The mural was painted by artist John Votel, who spent more than 20 years creating artwork and designs for Walt Disney World. His art work includes abstract pieces and realistic, textured 3D-style murals. This mural captures an important chapter in St. Cloud's history and is a great inclusion in the Historic Mural Trail.

This is an area of Lake Eola that is located on the Rosalind Ave side of the park. It is close to…read morethe pedaling swan rentals, bathroom and a restaurant. People enjoy coming here and take pictures. Kids enjoy playing here over the muse. It is really cool to see them enjoy it. This is free of charge.

The Muse of Discovery is one of 9 sculptures that are part of See Art Orlando, a permanent…read morecontemporary collection of art that was unveiled by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the See Art Orlando Board of Directors on November 18, 2013. The art project was launched by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and art lover Jennifer Quigley. They hoped that adding public art to downtown Orlando would bring pride, boost the economy, and strengthen the city's cultural core. The Muse of Discovery is the lovely lady of Lake Eola. Of all the public art around Lake Eola, she is my favorite. You can find her at the front of Lake Eola on Rosalind Avenue between Washington and Robinson. The Muse of Discovery is sculpture made from earthwork and limestone that portrays a reclining woman gazing at her opened hand as a blanket of grass covers her body. Created by artist Meg White you are invited to "sit in the hand of the Muse and discover your hidden potential as she whispers to you." The sculpture is meant to evoke one of the ancient Muses of Greek myth, the goddesses of creativity. This sculpture was donated to the city by Wayne M Densch Charities. I love the interactive nature of this piece. You are invited to sit in the hand but if you ever visit in person, you will most likely see her with children dangling off every part of her. Everyone want their picture taken with The Muse. When you see a photo of the Muse of Discovery, it is instantly recognizable as downtown Orlando, Florida.

A fun and free activity in downtown historic Kissimmee is a self guided mural tour. The murals are…read morepart of The Time For Art is Now public art project funded by Osceola Arts in downtown Kissimmee. The projects mission is to revitalize the downtown area with colorful works of art. KowTown is a 69X18 foot mural by Irish American artist Shea Monaghan. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, he moved to the Space Coast as a young boy. Living mainly in Melbourne, he enjoyed fishing, the beach, and the outdoors. While attending art classes at UCF in 2014 he started two graphic design companies. He now works on large scale acrylic paintings, murals, and free lance graphic design. KowTown takes its inspiration from the agricultural history of Kissimmee when it was nicknamed Kowtown or cowtown. Prior to the opening of Disney World in 1971, ranching was an important part of the Kissimmee economy. Cracker cowboys named after the 'crack' their whips made, tended to herds of cattle on large ranches. I love the historical nod of this mural. Its vibrant colors make it a real standout in the downtown area.