SENSORY sculpture
A stroll through this unique botanic garden takes you on a journey that engages the senses. Each garden offers themed plant collections that are unique to one bodily sense—taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound. While they represent diverse experiences, these spaces are unified in their celebration of discovery, art, and culture. When emerging from the Event Center looking south, your gaze is slightly elevated above the gardens. A view unfolds across a gently sloping hillside of waving textured ground covers, lush seasonal blooms, shady tree groves, and walking paths winding throughout.
Bonnet Springs Park will provide social and economic benefits, help provide that blended urban/natural park, and make the quality of life for future generations of Lakeland better.
LINEMEN project
Electric Linemen are the first of first-responders in natural and accidental disasters. We made it our challenge to interpret this message, increase public awareness and honor Linemen for their work. Tribute to Linemen, at Lakeland Electric HQ, Lake Mirror. Unveiled June 29, 2018.
The State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs loved our proposal to involve students in the design process, and an opportunity to work with a professional artist to realize a permanent public art installation.
LINEMEN project
Electric Linemen are the first of first-responders in natural and accidental disasters. We made it our challenge to interpret this message, increase public awareness and honor Linemen for their work. Tribute to Linemen, at Lakeland Electric HQ, Lake Mirror. Unveiled June 29, 2018.
The State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs loved our proposal to involve students in the design process, and an opportunity to work with a professional artist to realize a permanent public art installation.
GODDESS mural
In the 1960s, famed artist John Garth was commissioned by Publix founder George Jenkins to create an intricate piece of art, a ceramic tile mural entitled “The Goddess,” for one of his stores in Ft. Lauderdale. Unfortunately, this distinctive art was destroyed along with the building in the late 1980s.
ORANGE STREET bridge
The Orange Street Bridge serves as a pedestrian walkway from the performing arts center into downtown Lakeland and the Lake Mirror Promenade. Ceramic Artist, Beatte Marston, designed and created colorful ceramic tiles depicting the agricultural history and public landmarks of Lakeland for the north railing of the Orange Street Bridge. Ceramic installation on the south railing of the bridge, designed by Vincent Sansone, tells the fantastic tale of the travels of the hare and other creatures of the garden.
ORANGE STREET bridge
The Orange Street Bridge serves as a pedestrian walkway from the performing arts center into downtown Lakeland and the Lake Mirror Promenade. Ceramic Artist, Beatte Marston, designed and created colorful ceramic tiles depicting the agricultural history and public landmarks of Lakeland for the north railing of the Orange Street Bridge. Ceramic installation on the south railing of the bridge, designed by Vincent Sansone, tells the fantastic tale of the travels of the hare and other creatures of the garden.
PLATFORM kids
Platform Art presents an annual showcase of talent from elementary, middle and high school students from throughout Polk County, featuring art, film, fashion, sound and performance.
Students produce individual or collaborative works of art on paper, or 3-D sculpture exhibited by school.
ART walk
Platform Art initiated a public art and urban improvement project in collaboration with the Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency and other cultural organizations in downtown Lakeland. The project details exemplify our collaborative relationships and mutual intent to improve the landscape, commission art, and ultimately create a safe yet attractive public pedestrian walkway from the RP Funding Center and Hyatt Hotel into the downtown Lakeland area.
View a video on this project here.
ART walk
Platform Art initiated a public art and urban improvement project in collaboration with the Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency and other cultural organizations in downtown Lakeland. The project details exemplify our collaborative relationships and mutual intent to improve the landscape, commission art, and ultimately create a safe yet attractive public pedestrian walkway from the RP Funding Center and Hyatt Hotel into the downtown Lakeland area.
View a video on this project here.
MEMORIAL sculptures
The Polk County Veterans Council partnered with Platform Art and area youth to initiate a public art installation in Veteran’s Memorial Park. Honor, Sacrifice, and Service are themes selected as a tribute to veterans, police officers, firefighters, and emergency responders, installed over the three-year public art program. The sculptures link the community and youth to veterans and first responders, recognizing their honorable service.
Artists:
Maria Vasquez | Honor | 2014
Cierra Grenier | Sacrifice | 2015
Jenna Huffman | Service | 2016
Tom Monaco, Fourth Wall Design, Inc., Fabricator
ArtPOP! billboards
ArtPop promotes local artists’ work and makes art accessible to communities through available media space. We do that by promoting their work on billboards and public spaces, secured through the generous donations of media companies across the country.
2016 Artists:
Michael Barickman | Jon Boring | Tony Guinn | Vicky Luffman | Thomas Mack
All Projects 2010-2020
2019/20
Sound Wall
Becky Ault & Mike Cunningham, artists and fabricators, Art Research Enterprises, Inc.
Laura Prazdnicane; Lucy Jiayun Zhang, student designers, All Saints Academy
Bonnet Springs Park, installation/dedication June 2020
$150,000
2018/19
Goddess Mural
Tom Pitzen, artist
Polk County Tax Collector, Lakeland
$104,000
2018
Tribute to Linemen
Becky Ault, artist and fabricator, Art Research Enterprises, Inc.
Maddie McDaniel; Gabby Thomas; Angel Rose, student artists Lakeland High School
Lakeland Electric, Lemon Street
$145,000
2017
Lotus Garden
Tom Pitzen, artist, Pitzen Studios, Gulfport
Burlington Apartments, St. Petersburg, FL
$20,000
2017
Scrub Jay, Animation
Paul Allen, artist, PollyZoom Studios
Polk County Schools, education film
$20,000
2016
Service
Tom Monaco, artist fabricator, Fourth Wall Design Studio
Jenna Huffman, student designer, Lake Region High School
Veterans Memorial Park
$75,000
2015
Sacrifice
Tom Monaco, artist fabricator, Fourth Wall Design Studio
Cierra Grenier, student designer, Lake Region High School
Veterans Memorial Park
$75,000
2014
Honor
Tom Monaco, artist fabricator, Fourth Wall Design Studio
Maria Vazquez, student designer, Lake Region High School
Veterans Memorial Park
$75,000
2015-17
ArtPop Billboards
various regional artists on 5 billboards per year
$25,000 per year at $75,000 total
2015
Bike Racks
James Lasley, artist fabricator, Lasley Studios, Gainesville
various locations in Lakeland (New York Ave; Oak St)
$10,000
2012 & 2014
Orange Street Ceramic Tile Mural
Beatty Marston, artist, Charlie Parker Studios, St. Pete, 2012
Vincent Sansone, artist Crealde School of Art, Orlando, 2014
Orange Street Bridge, Lakeland
$45,000
2010/11
Sister Cities Mural
Platform Art Cultural Art Exchange for Lakeland Sister Cities
Imabari, Japan
$25,000
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Early access to exclusive events, salons, and lectures
Support students seeking higher education and careers in the art field
Receive an invitation to Annual Sponsor/Member Salon
Learn details of new art projects in advance
Meet other art enthusiasts
Encourage a new generation of artists
PLATFORM ART