The City of Tampa, Arts Programs division released a national call to artists to create an artwork for Trio at ENCORE!, a new building in downtown Tampa. Three blank concrete walls, each 20’ long and 12’ high have been designed into the façade of a 200’ brick wall that runs around the perimeter of the Trio apartment homes. This lends an opportunity for a public art installation which will face the newly renovated Perry Harvey Park. The area will serve as a gathering place and will feature a stage to be used for local musicians, outdoor cinema, and other entertainment purposes.
Out of the many candidates, Artist Natalie Blake was selected to create the artwork. The subject for Blake’s series is the historic African American business district, known as Central Avenue, and its surrounding neighborhoods. Natalie worked with the committee, researched photographic archives, and sought community input. This gave her the foundation to create The Gift of Gathering Remembrances, a three-panel ceramic mural.
“The Gift of Gathering Remembrances” tells a story of the formation, change and growth of a historically rich Tampa neighborhood: Central Avenue. In each panel, the artist uses the sun as its origin to identify the era that is being depicted. The panels are made up of 40 smaller tiles, each 18” squares and hand carved. The tiles are made by smoothing a slab of clay over handmade forms to give them undulation. Designs are then carved in each tile using the ancient technique of "sgraffito" meaning "to scratch". Next, the tiles are grouted in place where the hand-carved details of each tile lend themselves to viewing from a distance or up close.
The mural dates from 1820-1967. The first panel, which is titled, Dawning Sun Building the Bedrock of the Future Central Avenue, focuses on the dates of 1820-1920. It features the sun peaking up over the horizon, creating a sense of the time the African American community began to flourish in the Tampa region. The second panel is titled Noonday Sun: Central Ave in its Heyday, which focuses on the dates of 1920-1967. This mural depicts the noon sun at center-left of the mural. Radiating outwards are many of the accomplishments, inspirations, trends created, and people in service of their community during this time. The third panel, which touches on the dates 1967-future, is titled Future Sun: Dissolution into Solution. The panel depicts the sun rising in the sky with a group of hands encircling it. This represents energy transfer to, and among the community. The imagery celebrates the diversity that has made up the community after desegregation and into this century.
Special Recognition of Contributing Agencies:
Bank of America Community Development Corporation, Tampa Housing Authority, Trio at Encore, LP, City of Tampa, Art Programs Division. Public/Private partnership with City Of Tampa and the Tampa Housing Authority & BOA City of Tampa Arts Programs Division contributed 25% of the budget.
Location: 1101 Ray Charles Blvd. TRIO is located on the Encore! Campus. The artwork is located on the west facing wall overlooking historic Central Avenue