Three Palm Beach County-based artists have been selected as finalists for a large-scale public mural in downtown Lake Worth Beach.
The winning mural will be chosen by the end of June to replace the fading Martin Luther King Jr. mural on the south exterior wall of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County building at 601 Lake Ave.
The MLK mural, painted in 2017 by renowned Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra, will be removed in the coming weeks as construction crews repair cracks and leaks in the wall. When the repairs are completed, the new mural will be painted, with an expected completion by early fall.
The three finalists for the new mural, chosen from 12 submissions, are West Palm Beach-based artist team Anón, made up of husband and wife Jhonattan and Samantha Arango; West Palm Beach-based artist Craig McInnis; and Boca Raton-based artist Trinity Rivard.
The council reached out to Kobra about re-doing the MLK mural, which rises 54 feet high and is 36 feet wide, but his asking price was too expensive, council officials said.
The new mural, set to overlook a future outdoor Arts & Wellness Space south of the Council building, has a commission budget of $40,000.
“All of our finalists are established mural artists with unique styles,” said Jessica Ransom, the Cultural Council’s director of artist services. “We have many accomplished professional artists living and working here in The Palm Beaches, and we are excited to be providing an opportunity to showcase their work.”
The public is invited to view concept posters of the three proposed images inside the lobby of the Cultural Council building. Comment cards will be available to offer public feedback through June 15.
The selection committee will then reconvene and choose the final concept by the end of June.
Here are the finalists, listed in alphabetical order, with comments submitted by the artists to the Cultural Council:
Anón (Jhonattan and Samantha Arango)
Interwoven
Our concept is for a composition that connects the space with the idea of natural beauty and cycles, community, interconnection, and harmony with our surroundings. A digital version of this piece was recently featured in the Beyond Blossoms exhibition at the Cultural Council and we, as well as a few others, envisioned it as a mural.
Flowers are a common theme in our work -their vibrant colors against the dark, flat background grant an attention-pulling, three-dimensional feel to the artwork that encourage the audience to further explore.
The dance between the bee and the flower engrosses the viewer in a larger-than-life, intimate moment rich in stewardship: the bee understands its relationship to the flower and gives as much in return. Their exchange is based on mutual growth that benefits all manners of communities, affecting our very own sustenance in the form of a third of the food we consume, the oxygen we breathe, etc.
Similarly, this is a reflection on our roles within our societies, in which all pieces are an important part of the whole.
Floral landscapes openly showcase the beauty that often goes unseen— channeled through the uniqueness of a contemporary style—and subconsciously remind the audience of their place in nature, nestled within the unfathomable intelligence of life on Earth.
Like most within our sunny spot in Florida, this wildflower is not native to, but grows in Florida gardens. Lastly, our mural involves a community component which allows for anyone of any age or skill level to participate in painting the lower portion of the mural, making it a true community piece.
Craig McInnis
Interconnected
I decided to drive my concept toward the interconnectivity of all people and all things.
The idea is that a group of people from all different walks of life gathered together in a circle represents a utopian scenario of peace love and health.
The circular table in the middle speaks to the earthly elements, growth, grace, mortality and power -- some of the things that connect us all.
The figures are enveloped in abstract flower petals, a representation of the protection that connection provides human beings.
Trinity Rivard
Telling A Story
My mural promotes a community united, rooted in an active lifestyle and inclusive of all. I use vibrant color to represent diversity and make people stop and look, engage, question, discuss and share. I invested weeks creating this mural design being sure to take time to be inspired by the sights, sounds and interactions with the community so that I could eventually create a public work of art that will take on a life of its own. Once completed it is my belief it will inspire all who view it in some way shape or form.
A community where everyone has a sense of belonging is a healthy community. My artwork portrays is hugging, playing in the sand, relaxing in the water, reflecting on the past, all while looking toward a brighter future together.
The healing properties of the water and sun are emphasized, as well as the healing power of the human touch. The waves sweep over us, providing relaxation, reconnecting us in nature and rejuvenating our mind, body and spirit. Like the figures in my art, we are all connected in some way; our interactions shape our lives and ultimately our community.
To learn more about the project, visit palmbeachculture.com/our-mural.
© 2024 ByJoeCapozzi.com All rights reserved.
Please help support local journalism by clicking the donation button in the masthead on our homepage.
About the author
Joe Capozzi is an award-winning reporter based in Lake Worth Beach. He spent more than 30 years writing for newspapers, mostly at The Palm Beach Post, where he wrote about the opioid scourge, invasive pythons, the birth of the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and Palm Beach County government. For 15 years, he covered the Miami Marlins baseball team. Joe left The Post in December 2020. View all posts by Joe Capozzi.