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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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02 01 01. 02. 03. 04. 04
04
01.
The Lakeland Center
The Lakeland
Center New Street Trees
02.
Heritage Garden Orange Street Bridge ceramic mural
03. 04.
Platform Art Community Garden Heritage Garden Orange Street Bridge
C
05 07
B
05 03
A
05.
Event Venue A St. Joseph’s Catholic Church B Polk Theatre C Arts on the Park
06. 07
Platform Art Community Garden
07.
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
’s
St. Joseph
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Credit Union
City of Lakeland • 228 South Massachusetts Avenue • Lakeland, Florida 33801 www.lakelandcra.net • 863.834.6011