handmade ceramic tiles and ceramic tiles

Bomberos Field Park in Orlando, FL, USA

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Growing up and living in Central Florida, I am inspired by the natural scenery. I enjoy photographing nature and using those photographs to create my artwork. This mural “Natural Florida” is a collage of photographs I took in my backyard. The Sandhill Cranes are residents in my neighborhood and the Beautyberry bush and Spanish Needle flowers grow right in my yard. These two native plants are main features in this mural. There are other native plants, palms and trees that I included but they are not as obvious. These plants have been pressed into clay and are used in the background.

The coolest thing about this mural is there is a Sandhill crane couple that frequent the park on a regular basis. Florida Sandhill Cranes do not migrate. You will always see them in pairs or a pair with their 1 or 2 chicks. While I was installing the mural, I had a pair and their full-grown chick, visit me every day. The chick is the one seen in the photo. It hung out with me for hours at a time.

The mural is located at the Bomberos Field Park in Orlando, FL, USA on the concession stand side of the building facing the walkway as you enter into the park. It was created with handmade ceramic tiles and other ceramic tiles. It stands 12 feet tall by 28 feet wide. It was completed in 2021. It was a public art commission with Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs.