This week in history

April 21, 1977 

Thorton Utz, a national artist, was putting the finishing touches his studio on Palm Island on Siesta Key. The unique structure, which was originally a house, was converted into a round studio to serve as Utz’s domain. 

FUN FACT: Palm Island is home to several unique homes and a close-knit community. To learn more about this community, watch a video at yourobserver.com.

April 29, 1984

John Osgood, a graphic design teacher at Ringling School of Art and Design, won a contest to design a flag representing Siesta Key. The contest commissioned artists to design a flag that could be hung and sold in local businesses. Osgood’s “S” represented the shape of Siesta’s coastline. He chose blue, orange and green to represent the water, sun and foliage seen on the island. He won a $100 prize donated by the Siesta Key Association.