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Public Art Committee approves Arlington Park lifeguard building mural by Alyssa Silvers
Summary
The City of Sarasota Public Art Committee unanimously approved a proposal to install a 1,150-square-foot mural, "Rhapsody in Bloom," by local artist Alyssa Silvers at the Arlington Park aquatic lifeguard headquarters, with a total budget of up to $40,000 including plaque and basic lighting.
The City of Sarasota Public Art Committee on an unanimous vote approved a plan to install a mural on the lifeguard headquarters at Arlington Park and Aquatic Complex, selecting artist Alyssa Silvers to paint “Rhapsody in Bloom.” The committee approved a total project budget of up to $40,000, which staff said covers artist fees, incidental costs and a plaque; the artist’s proposal listed a $37,400 artist budget.
The mural, described by the artist as an abstract celebration of Sarasota’s coastal energy and native flora, will cover two walls totaling about 1,150 square feet. Staff said the final project could include basic lighting and an anti-graffiti UV coating; Silvers proposed an optional community “mini paint day” that would allow residents of all ages to help fill outlined sections of the design.
Committee members said the design fits the site’s varied uses, from swim lessons to senior water aerobics, and noted outreach to the Arlington Park neighborhood produced largely positive responses. Flo Entler, president of the Arlington Park Neighborhood Association, read emailed neighborhood comments into the record, saying, “99% of the feedback we received was very positive,” and quoted neighbors who wrote, “It will definitely brighten up the boring building.”
Public arts staff told the committee that Parks & Recreation contributed to the selection process and that Mark Hamilton, the department’s general manager, supports the project but could not attend the meeting. Silvers answered committee questions about materials and longevity, saying she intends to use Sherwin-Williams Latitude high-durability paint plus UV and anti-graffiti coatings; she corrected a minor line-item error in her proposal during her presentation.
The motion to approve the project passed unanimously. Staff said if costs for lighting or other sitework exceed the approved budget, they will return to the committee for further direction.
The committee also discussed using the mural as a mentorship opportunity, with the artist open to working with less-experienced muralists and coordinating demonstrations as part of the community paint day.
