downtown Clearwater

Posted on March 27, 2024 by Mary C

The previous blog post was about a large mural in Clearwater that was on the Pinellas (bike and walking) Trail as it passed the downtown area, “See yah later Alligator”. Slightly to the north of that alligator, but still on the trail, is this mural….

mural by illsol, large, blue background, bicycles, oranges, locomotive, about history, orange belt railway, now on the pinellas trail in clearwater

It was painted by Illsol, a husband and wife team of Michelle Sawyer and Tony Krol and is titled, “One hundred years before J. Cole”. In 1885 the Orange Belt Railway, a narrow-gauge railway, was opened. This was also the year that the bicycle (with the same design as modern bikes) went into production. Today, the Pinellas Trail runs along the route of the Orange Belt Railway. The reference to J. Cole is because of a song of his called ‘1985’ about change and history.

part of a large blue mural, painted by illsol, steam locomotive from the orange belt railway, some oranges, and some bikes

bike, in a mural by illsol, clearwater, palm tree trunk in front of it, muralsofclearwater,

below: “Ikebana”, a flower arrangement. The word ikebana is Japanese and it refers to a style of flower arranging. It was painted by DAAS.

mural with many colorful flowers in ikebana, japanese flower arrangement, painted by D A A S

large white flower in a mural by d a a s

below: “Elysian Days” by Cecilia Lueza, rainforest inspired colours and shapes.

swirls of colours, a mural by lueza, shades of greens that look like leaves, some pinks and oranges too

below: History at the corner of Garden and Cleveland.

right hand side of a mural showing part of clearwater in the past, old truck with sign on side that says Jewelers Baskets Salon,

part of mural showing history of clearwater, Garden Avenue, old cars, brick streets, some pedestrians, a row of stores, inclusing a restaurant

below: “Communidad” by Theic Camilo Nunez and Florencia Duran.

mural, larger than life size people, title is communidad, people are reaching out and touching their neighbours

below: “Avenue du Jardin” is quite faded (I’ve played with the colours and enhanced them a bit). The plaque on the wall says, “This mural is dedicated to the citizens of Clearwater in celebration of our history and our future.” It was originally painted in 2002 and then restored not too long ago by Ana Livingston.

below: United We Stand, signed by four artists: Maria Chang, Jennifer Vallieres, Miriam Vallieres, and Laurie Anopach,

patriotic mural, american flag, words united we stand, kids, firemen, police, medical people, community

below: A bit of colour on the sidewalk brought to you by the Clearwater Arts Alliance.

below: With drips and bubbles and great shades of blue, a tree by Candy Schultheis

downtown heroes and a chicken too

Posted on January 4, 2024 by Mary C

Seen in Tampa

below: A mural by Audrey Jennifer and Matt Kress

downtown Tampa street with mural by Matt Kress and Audrey Jennifer of Ray Charles in a purple bowtie and quarterback Tom Brady in his Buccaneers uniform, number 12

below: This mural was painted in time for Super Bowl LV which was held in Tampa, and featured a Tampa team in the game. Sport and music combined with a star from each – Ray Charles on the left.

below: And on the right, Number 12 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, quarterback Tom Brady.

below: He even wore a mask for Covid! This portrait of Tom Brady was painted by Kyle Holbrook.

below: Tampa Bay also has a hockey team!, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Number 45 for the Buccaneers is linebacker Devin White. This “Champa Bay” mural was a collaboration between Kyle Holbrook and Ania Amador.

mural with Tampa Bay shoreline, water, as well as a football player and a hockey player

below: “All for Love!” says the rooster (chicken?) on the side of Branscomb Hall at The Portico (part of Hyde Park United Methodist Church) although the title of the mural is actually “For the Love of THIS City”. It was painted by Michelle Sawyer and Tony Krol who work together under the name Illsol.

“For the Love of THIS City”. It was painted by Michelle Sawyer and Tony Krol who work as Illsol. A chicken, two alligators, a heron, some local flowers, and some other Tampa symbols,

below: It features local wildlife living in harmony… like alligators and herons and … chickens? Apparently Ybor City chickens are famous?! This one looks a little grouchy.

close up of chicken and alligator and heron and other wildlife in Illsol mural at The Portico, Hyde Park Methodist church

Photos taken April 2022

Tampa in words and pictures

Posted on December 31, 2023 by Mary C

below: 2012, commissioned by Tampa Public Art Program, painted by Carl Cowden III. In the letters that spell “Tampa” you can see the Sulphur Springs water tower, the Gasparilla ship and accompanying flotilla, the old Tampa Bay Hotel now the University of Tampa, a streetcar in Ybor City, and a nature scene on the Hillsborough River.