In 2012 the City of Pompano Beach adopted an ordinance to place public art in the city. Works are…read morechosen by the Public Art Committee and the Old Town Mural is part of the public art program. It's so much fun finding new art popping up in different places in the city. There is a ten year master plan that proposes 27 new pieces of art. Periodically Pompano will list a call for artist submissions on their public arts page and at that time artists can submit their work for consideration for the next project. The Old Town Mural was created by South Florida artist Carlos Gonzalez. He won the competition held by the Public Arts Committee and his design was chosen. The mural is located on an exterior wall in the Old Town section of Pompano located across the street frrom the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. In bright colors, the 98 foot high mural depicts the landmarks and historic sites in Pompano Beach. Scenes include the Pompano Beach pier, the Hillsboro Lighthouse, fruilts and vegetables from when Pompano Beach started out as a farming community, historic buildings, and a Pompano fish. The best time to come and see this mural is during Old Town Untapped, a food arts, and shopping event held on the first Friday of every month. The city planted some flowers in front of the mural and it is the perfect back drop for taking pictures. I really love this mural and am excited to see what the committee approves next.

Kudos to the artist . We were near the mural in the small park listening to a free rock band …read more Apparently they have free monthly concerts near the old town mural . Yippy to free concerts and beautiful art .

Green Turtle and Blue Tang is another one of the beautiful public art works in…read moreLauderdale-by-the-Sea by artist Laura Fisher Huck. I have always admired this piece at the entrance to Green Turtle Plaza, the home of one of my favorite sub shops, La Spada's. Laura Huck created several pieces for Lauderdale-by-the-Sea including the Coral Reef Arch at the town entryway. Town Manager Connie Hoffman first spotted Huck's work in Nova Scotia where the works were installed in 2002. Huck specialized in outdoor painted sculptures and has developed a process where they do not weather. She ended up designing five colorful sculptures for the city with inspiration drawn from her dives with scuba instructor Rene Bobadilla. Artist Laura Fisher Huck visualized, researched, designed, and then drew the art work. It was then cut and fabricated by a structural engineer. The pieces were made out of aluminum so it would not corrode, coated with zinc oxide primer, and then hand painted with UV protecting acrylic paint. During the last step, six coats of UV protecting epoxy were also applied. Green Turtle and Blue Tang was installed in 2013 and features a green sea turtle, the largest of the hard shelled turtles. They are unique because they are herbivores with a diet consisting of sea grass and algae. Green turtles are found around the world but their numbers have declined as they have been used for their meat and eggs. They have also lost nesting habitat due to coastal development. They are listed as an endangered species. Surrounding the turtle are colorful blue tangs, a fish often seen on Florida's reefs. The blue tangs are giving the turtle a bath by eating the algae off of its shell. In 2021 Lauderdale-by-the-Sea budgeted $200,000 to restore the Laura Fisher Huck sculptures by the beach. Green Turtle and Blue Tang has never looked better. I love the intricacy of this sculpture and it's theme. It's a great reminder to protect endangered sea turtles and keep your garbage off the beach. These and other sea turtles nest on the beach a few feet away March through October.

Riding my bike through the Riverwalk and stopped for a cold tea at Pura Vida where the giant THRIVE…read morecavelike stone sculpture proudly stands with green vines filling the sides of the cave. Im not really an art buff, but this sculpture by Daniel Popper was impressive. The stone sculpture depicts a woman cracking open her rib cage with both of her hands symbolizing transformation and hope. People can be seen taking pictures inside the cave. Its worth a few minutes to take a peek at this artwork if near Las Olas in Ft Lauderdale.

The Thrive Statue is one of those pieces that stops you mid-walk. It's powerful, expressive, and…read morequietly emotional--capturing strength, growth, and resilience all at once. The scale alone draws you in, but it's the details and posture that really make you pause and reflect. Set against the modern surroundings, it feels both grounding and inspiring, like a reminder to keep pushing forward even when things feel heavy. Beautifully done, thoughtfully placed, and absolutely worth a moment (or a photo) if you're in the area.

While searching on Yelp for vintage shops in Oakland Park, this Art Park popped up and almost…read morepassed by the small cement sign on the corner of Andrews Ave next to the Roselli Park Plaza. It was strange, since there was only one art exhibit in the grass visible only from the side roadway. A tower of multi colored hand painted squares depicting red ribbons and alot of awkward unexplainable designs. At the bottom of the exhibit was a placard advising the art was dedicated by the World Aids Museum and Educational Center called Project H.O.P.E. Not something I would recommend driving out of your way to experience.

I stumbled on this interesting little park on the way home from picking up my Yelp awards and it…read moreturns out it has quite a bit of history. The entire block that this park sits on was once owned by Lucius Kinsey. He became one of the first settlers to the area when he moved to what would become Oakland Park in 1914 with his wife Nora. Oakland park became a city in 1929 and Mr. Kinsey served on the first city council. Mr. Kinsey eventually gave the part of his property that is Art Park to Leroy and Iris Kinsey Chadwick. They built a home where they lived for the next 50 years. Leroy, or Roy as he was known was also a city councilman and he owned a construction company that built many of the homes in Oakland Park. The couples daughter Darleen was born at home on January 6, 1926 and was listed as the first baby born in the town of Floranada, the first name of Oakland Park. When Darlene grew up she became the City Clerk for 25 years. Art Park opened in November of 2013. It is open from dawn to dusk. The park is ADA accessible with sidewalks, a seating wall, open space for events, and sculptures. There are large red abstract sculptures surrounding an open space, an art wall, and a piece dedicated to the AIDS epidemic. There is free street parking. The park is small but I love history and art so I was delighted to find it. Well done Oakland Park for marking your history and bringing culture to the community.

Marc Quinn's "Broken Sublime," is a stunning stainless steel seashell sculpture on Las Olas Blvd &…read moreSE 6th Ave. The conch shell, a piece by British artist Marc Quinn stands over 7 feet tall & weighs more than 5,500 lbs, This larger-than-life stainless steel seashell sculpture valued at nearly $1 million graces the grounds of downtown's long-awaited Tunnel Top Plaza, an artificial turf zone that cost taxpayers $10.6 million. This new sculpture and sitting area is in front of the cheesecake factory. The beach is steps away and the new art here is meant to evoke positive feelings about the Fort Lauderdale seashore.

Broken Sublime (The Hunger) is a new stainless steel public art piece that was purchased for the…read morenew Tunnel Top Park that sits over the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel. You can find the giant stainless steel conch shell between the Cheesecake Factory and Sushi Garage on Las Olas Boulevard. The shiny conch shell is over 7 feet high and weighs 5,500 pounds. This art piece and future pieces that will be placed in the park were paid from a 5 million dollar donation from the estate of the late James Winder Laird. Broken Sublime (The Hunger) is by British artist Marc Quinn. Quinn is a contemporary visual artist whose subjects include the body, genetics, identity, environment, and the media. Although primarily known as a sculptor, he has also produced prints and photographs. Quinn has had exhibitions in major galleries like the Tate and he has created public art work for cities all over the world. The public art here is meant to make Tunnel Top Park an inviting place for tourists to hang out on Las Olas Boulevard. Broken Sublime (The Hunger) in particular is meant to evoke the idea that the beach is a short distance away and that Ft. Lauderdale is a beach town. I think this piece adds interest to an otherwise plain pedestrian area. It is also a nice place to take a selfie.

Since their first public art project, the covered bridge in 1963, Coral Springs has become one of…read morethe leading public art cities in south Florida. The art is paid for during development and redevelopment in the city. Fees are collected from permits during building construction and renovations in the city. None of the art is paid with public tax dollars. Opened in October of last year, ArtWalk, is an event and entertainment space in downtown Coral Springs. It is on NW 31st Court and runs between University and Coral Hills Drives . The ArtWalk is 1300 feet long and has benches, a seating wall, native plant landscaping, and room for event tents. It serves as a park and a place for the city to display temporary art works, some of which they will eventually purchase. I enjoyed checking out the six art works on display which currently include Coalescence, Ascent, Beyond, Union One, and Give Them Wings. My favorite was the steel orchids that make up Coalescence. It is free to enjoy the art and it looks different depending on whether you visit during the day or at night. I look forward to seeing what else the city adds as well as attending events here.

We had an amazing time this year at the Florida Renaissance Festival we were so sad to see it end…read morebut totally had a blast for all the days the weekends you were here. People put so much work and effort into this festival. We totally appreciate it. The things we love about the Florida Renaissance Festival is you feel like you've been lifted out of this regular world into a whole new place and everybody makes that happen that works there. The beautiful ambience of the park the decor all around, the awesome artworks that people create, the costumes. The music is one of my all-time favorites. It's part of the reason why I come here every year. Also you can try so many different types of foods that's always so exciting. I love dressing up, wearing costumes and walking through the park talking with other like-minded people. We enjoyed so many shows this year from the Washing Well Winches, to the guy playing the Bells, all the different Irish bands, like Celtic mayhem, one of my favorites is the band from Italy Rota they are awesome especially when they play in the street and we can dance all around so fun. Also love watch art demonstrations, Thanks again Florida Renaissance Festival for making this year great!

What an amazing event! It was like stepping back into time and into fairy tale stories! With the…read moremost unique thing being that not only the workers dress up and act but so do the people who attend. I saw medieval characters, gladiators & knights, pirates, fairies and nymphs, even a wizard! And of course with a costume contest. Quiet Waters Park was converted into a story book. Unique performances with music, comedy, drama, juggling dancing and with interaction like the Maypole. Also jousting and horsriding competitions and cannon & trebuchet firing.There was Archery, Axe throwing, a maze, sword fighting and instruction, cobbling, jewelry making. A variety of activities for kids as well as adults. Especially adults who want to be kids...like me! Lol Souvenir shops with items that you don't see every day, like a dragon egg candle that once melted reveals a baby dragon just like in Game of Thrones! Also good food and drinks throughout the park. I didn't think I would spend that much time here but I spent the entire day practically without even realizing time had passed! A great time to immerse yourself in a world of fantasy, merriment & amazement! I truly enjoyed everything here!

Prismatica is a free new art installation located along in Plaza Real in Mizner Park in Boca Raton…read more The art installation is 25 six-foot pivoting holographic prisms. Prisms have flat, polished surfaces that are designed to refract light. At least one surface must be angled to be considered a prism. I think of prisms as being glass but they can be made from any material that is transparent to the wavelengths for which they are designed. The panels of these prisms seem to be made out of some kind of plastic which reflect various rainbow colored lights that change color depending on the angle you view them. The installation is the creation of RAW Design, a Toronto-based architectural firm who had 30 architects and designers from the fields of applied science, technology, art and architecture come together to create Prismatica.. The installation is sponsored by Quartier des Spectacles Partnership of Montreal. After Boca Raton Prismatica will continue to tour the United States. The prisms are set up on the sidewalk in front of the shops. The interactive part of the art is you can spin them to see the colors change. You can also look through them to see the street change color. I tried to take a few pictures shooting through the prisms. At night the prisms light up making even more colors. I used to use a prism as a kid to make rainbows around my bedroom. Playing with these large prisms brought back those childhood feelings of wonder and discovery. I love what is happening in Mizer Park. First we get the world famous Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibit at the Boca Raton Museum of Art and now that they have packed up these fun and colorful prisms made their debut on March 3rd in time for spring. If you want to see and play with the prisms though you will have to hurry. There are only here for one month and will be departing on April 3.

I have been to the Pompano Cultural Center many times. Everytime was for their monthly jazz show…read morethey put on. I think in many states this would be a premier spot for jazz, but especially in South Florida. We are short on jazz options, but not if you can make it to Pompano. It's every 2nd Thursday of the month. The fella who puts it to gether is a mainstay. He's a increible on guitar. the drums is a regular as well, very good. And they and different line ups dependign on the month and who they have that set. We have heard many different mixes. This last week when we caught the show, there was a new guy that was great on bass. There was also a fella who played sax, and really had some nice solos on clarinet. I should add before and after the show you can check out the galleries and art that's displayed there. Upstairs there are artists in residence that you can watch them at their craft as well. It's a great spot to hear music and art, all in one.

What a great place for a show! Lots of comfortable seating…read more(be warned there are many steps and kind of steep, but they do have helpful hand rails), super friendly staff, drinks and snacks for sale, decent lighting and sound. What more do you need?

Do you like pompano? The fish, I mean. Have you had it? It's light, white, and flaky. It is my…read morefavorite fish to eat. It's great done piccatta, or almondine, or francaise style. And it's the namesake of the city of Pompano Beach. Years ago, there used to be huge "runs" of the fish right off shore. Now, not so much. But if you get a chance to try it -- if you ever see it on a south Florida menu -- do order it. Meanwhile, the City of Pompano Beach has adopted the fish as a sort of mascot or symbol. And it chose to use fish sculptures as one of their art in public places projects. They have over a dozen "fish" near their library/city hall/community center and by the beach, as well. I'm not sure exactly how many total there are in the City now. I know it's over 20 so far. This one, was just recently placed at the entrance to the Cypress Bend Complex. Heading south on Powerline Road, just south of Harrah's, you can turn in between the Walgreens and the Family Dollar stores and just drive straight ahead. You'll see it right in front of you by the lake. The fish are brightly colored and attract attention. They're fun and a good photo opportunity. So, it is both for the community and for tourist attention. Artists send in proposals to do them, and they are chosen (or awarded) the chance to put their art before the public. This newest painted fish is called "Lucky Leo". It was created by artist Sitka Dogan. He has done other art in public places in various cities in different mediums from chalk painting to murals. Next time you're in Pompano Beach, check it out. And it's also fun to try to find more of these fish sculptures throughout the city.