Art In Agriculture

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ART IN AGRICULTURE LINKING THE CITY THROUGH

ARTS AND AGRICULTURE

—William Jennings Bryan

Art in AgriCulture

Lakeland has always had a strong history and connection to the agriculture industry so it is no small surprise that this rapidly urbanizing city would be the location of a very creative, collaborative community-based venture called Art in AgriCulture. Popular belief is that agriculture cannot exist in hot concrete jungles, but

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When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of human civilization.

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this community project has highlighted “urban agriculture” by making improvements to both the urban and cultural landscape.

- Daniel Webster

Art in AgriCulture is a community project

Art in AgriCulture took form initially as

which combines a series of permanent art

an indoor/outdoor progressive art party

and landscaping improvements with a

beginning on the west side of the Orange

celebration of the arts. It was seeded by an

Street Bridge and moving east towards

idea outlined in the Lakeland Community

the downtown Core. The event, envisioned

Redevelopment Agency’s Downtown

as a one-time celebration, would have

Redevelopment Plan which champions

the dual benefit of leaving physical

the continued urbanization of downtown

enhancements behind which would

Lakeland through new real estate and

continue to encourage the community

business development as well as ongoing

to experience this part of downtown

enhancements to improve pedestrian,

Lakeland. The event was proposed to

automobile and cycling connectivity, and

start at The Lakeland Center’s Hyatt Hotel,

overall quality of life.

progress to the Orange Street Bridge, move to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church followed by

As with all fledgling ideas, this project

the Polk Theater, and then conclude at

required nurturing and cultivation, which

Arts on the Park. Along the party route,

was provided by Platform Art, a non-profit

participants would be able to view a

arts organization which specializes in

number of artistic expressions; from a new

showcasing new and exciting talent in

public art installation on the Orange Street

all aspects of the arts. Platform Art

Bridge to a community garden in a former

spearheaded the Art in AgriCulture idea

vacant lot, to the renowned Lemon Street

which rapidly grew into a fun, creative,

Promenade filled with outdoor sculptures.

collaborative venture involving an

Moreover, each of the venues would

extraordinary number of arts, education,

host visual art displays, films and live

government and business organizations.

performances.

A project as ambitious as this required the

Memorial Gardens, Folsom Construction, Polk

The ceramic mural, created by

participation, patronage and collaboration of

County Master Gardeners and Jim Williams Fence

Charlie Parker and Beate

a number of organizations and individuals.

Company, came together to assist in preparing

Marston, of Charlie Parker

Platform Art commissioned a ceramic mural to

the site and planting a community garden

be installed on the Orange Street Bridge by

designed by the University of Florida/ Institute of

conversations with members

ceramicists and artists Charlie Parker and Beate

Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS)/ Polk

of the community about Polk

Marston of St. Petersburg, Florida. The artists

County Extension Service.

County’s agricultural heritage

who represented education, farming and agriculture, landscape design, gardening and government. In keeping with the theme of Art in AgriCulture, the mural depicts iconic images and the skyline of Lakeland, interspersed with images that celebrate Polk County’s agricultural heritage. The completed mural will be installed

The City of Lakeland’s Parks and Recreation, Public

reconciling harsh urban

Works and Water Utilities Departments assisted

environments with the more

with many aspects of the project, from the contribution of plants and labor to the garden,

pastoral perceptions of agricultural settings. These discussions, combined with

assistance with the engineering and installation

Charlie and Beate’s visits to

of the tile mural, as well as the coordination of

Lakeland, resulted in a

utilities. The Lakeland Downtown Development

beautiful piece which

Authority provided financial assistance, as well

showcases vistas of

as expedited design review and permitting.

Lakeland’s downtown skyline, images which reference

on both sides of the bridge, in two lengths of 80 feet each.

Florida, was inspired by

as well as the challenge of

developed their design concept with the assistance of a number of community members

Pottery in St. Petersburg,

The project also capitalized on the recent revival of outdoor sculpture along the Lemon Street

Central Florida’s ties to the citrus industry, as well as flourishing plants which

Arts on the Park and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

Promenade. Sculptor Doug Makemson, of Athens,

are the result of our often

offered the use of their spaces for event activities.

Georgia, has loaned the City of Lakeland twelve

tropical climate.

St. Joseph’s also allowed the community garden

pieces of his whimsical scrap metal sculptures

to be placed on their property and pledged to

which depict dogs, birds, and insects. The Lemon

maintain the plantings once established. Partners

Street Promenade has had a long history as a

as varied as the Lakeland Funeral Home and

location for public/private art installations.

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The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.

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- Masanobu Fukuoka, The One-Straw Revolution

WHERE EAST MEETS WEST

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The Lakeland Center

The Lakeland

Center New Street Trees

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Heritage Garden Orange Street Bridge ceramic mural

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Platform Art Community Garden Heritage Garden Orange Street Bridge

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A

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Event Venue A St. Joseph’s Catholic Church B Polk Theatre C Arts on the Park

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Platform Art Community Garden

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Lemon Street Promenade

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Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.

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Letter from Thomas Jefferson to George Washington (1787)

While the art party was a one-time event, Art in AgriCulture is an ongoing project. The Orange Street Bridge ceramic mural and community garden are just the beginning of a long term commitment to link west side of South Florida Avenue to the downtown core through physical improvements. Future projects include enhanced landscaping along Orange Street, a proposed cycle track on New York Avenue as well as additional public art. To continue the celebration of art Platform Art Party #19: Art in AgriCulture was the

and the Lakeland community, an October

public celebration of the culmination of this

Platform Art event is in the planning stages.

project and took place on April 28, 2012. After

And consistent with the goals of the Lakeland

Deputy City Manager Tony Delgado completed

Community Redevelopment Agency, real estate

the official dedication of the ceramic mural,

development opportunities which will help to

Lady Godiva kicked off the party which included

support the existing businesses on the west

performances by Florida Dance Theater Youth

side of downtown will be encouraged.

Ensemble, the Shuffling Squares of Lake Ashton, Billy Needs a Beard, and Moxie Le Femme. The

The idea and implementation of Art in

evening included poetry readings, performance

AgriCulture has shown the power of community

art, computer animations from the Ringling

and collaboration around a shared vision. We

College of Art and Design, and visual art displays

anticipate that this project will continue to grow

by a number of local artists. Orange Street was

and change and will be further enhanced by the

closed to automobile traffic which allowed

partners who participate in its implementation.

the party to spill into the street. Food trucks,

Most importantly, with the participation of so

Faith Equine Rescue, Campfire USA, the Future

many, as a community, we will all reap great

Farmers of America (FFA) and the Polk County

benefits.

Extension/Master Gardeners had exhibits in the street and adjacent to the community garden.

Platform Art shakes off old perceptions that “art is stuffy” by giving visual and performing artists from Central Florida an opportunity to showcase their talents in a nontraditional manner.

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Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call her own.

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Samuel Johnson

Platform Art, Inc., a non-profit arts organization, is a community-conscious collaboration of artisans and art lovers whose ultimate goal is to showcase new and exciting talent in the fields of visual arts, film, fashion, music and performance.

Photo credit: Tom Hagerty

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St. Joseph

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Credit Union

City of Lakeland • 228 South Massachusetts Avenue • Lakeland, Florida 33801 www.lakelandcra.net • 863.834.6011