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.

I discovered this colorful public artwork at the entrance to the Spanish River Library. As part of…read moreBoca Raton's 100th anniversary celebration, the City unveiled Palm Trees Sway as part of its Plastic Poetry public art series. This Centennial initiative celebrates Boca Raton's unique character through community-inspired poetry, recycled materials, and public art placed in unexpected locations throughout the city. Plastic Poetry was commissioned by Public Art Boca in collaboration with O, Miami and Free Plastic. The Ode to Boca series transforms recycled plastic waste into five-line poems inspired by the digits of Boca Raton's ZIP codes. The words, written by local residents, reflect the city's spirit, stories, and natural beauty. Each letter was crafted from recycled polypropylene collected during local cleanups. The plastic was melted and molded into colorful, durable 5-inch letters. Palm Trees Sway incorporates 7.32 pounds of recycled plastic. Palm Trees Sway features a poem by Boca Raton resident Jennifer, whose verse captures the peaceful rhythm of life by the ocean: Palm trees sway Ocean breeze whispers Sunrise paints the sky A century of learning, Young minds growing -- Jennifer Ferris I love how this series is a blend of art, recycling, and Boca Raton pride. In front of the artwork is a garden of flowers further tying it to a message of environmental protection. This meaningful addition to the entrance is well worth taking a moment to appreciate before entering the library.

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.

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.

Frame Your Neighborhood is a series of four street art murals by native West Palm Beach artist…read moreHector Diaz. Diaz worked in advertising and as a graphic artist before turning to street art 25 years ago. He is now specializing in making anamorphic art. This kind of art changes, moves perspective, and morphs when viewed through a cell phone or app. First he takes an image into Photoshop, stretches and elongates it, and then paints it flat on the ground surface so that it comes together when viewed through a camera phone. I have seen this kind of art before with chalk painters at street festivals but this is the first time I have seen it done with murals. A circle near the mural tells where to stand to take the picture of it. The four murals Diaz completed for West Palm Beach Art in Public Places are in city parks and are meant to bring awareness to water resources and wildlife. Each mural is unique to its surroundings. This is the first mural in the series and it was completed in South Olive Park next to the kiddie splash pad. This mural features two manatees curiously peaking up from the water on the sidewalk. Florida manatees have only recently been removed from the endangered status list, although they still remain threatened. I love that this mural highlights this beloved Florida marine mammal.

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 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.

If you have ever read my reviews, you probably know by now that I have a love for both art and…read morehistory. So while traveling through West Palm Beach, I was excited to discover a public artwork piece that brings together both of my interests. Located in Coleman Park, the Field of Stories symbolizes tells the story of the neighborhood and its deep connection to African-American history and baseball. Coleman Park is a historically significant Black neighborhood that grew from the earlier communities of Lincoln Park and Tamarind Park. Before homes filled the area, the land was used for pineapple farming. During the early 20th century, Black residents who were displaced from Palm Beach settled here, including professionals and families who helped shape the community. The neighborhood is named for George Coleman, a prominent Black undertaker who trained other Black morticians and provided dignified services to the African-American community during segregation. During the Jim Crow era, Coleman Park also became an important gathering place and an unofficial spring-training site for Negro League baseball. Baseball legends including Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella spent time in the area, making the neighborhood an important part of baseball history. The artwork beautifully incorporates that history into the landscape. Stone dust pathways weave across the field, recalling the baselines and mowing patterns of a baseball diamond. Scattered throughout the space are nine oversized baseball sculptures made of tinted cast concrete, each set into the ground at different levels. They double as seats, backrests, tables and small stages, making the artwork interactive. I especially love the idea behind the name Field of Stories. Each year, the neighborhood honors a community hero by having that person's name inscribed on one of the baseballs. Over time, those names become the stories written across the field, preserving the memories of the people who helped shape Coleman Park. Completed in 2004 as a public art commission for the grounds of a new community center, the project transforms a historic baseball site into a place where art, history and community come together. Field of stories is an example of how public art can do more than beautify a space. It can preserve history and give a community a way to tell its own story.