Community unites to paint mural at Arlington Park

Although someone had applied the wrong shade of blue to one section of the lifeguard building — noted artist Alissa Silvers — that didn't stop the young girl who was painting from re-doing the coating with the correct color. 

As Silvers led her second community mural project, she said it doesn't matter when painters make drips and drops on the murals, but also that participants were giving their best effort.

"Some people really want to make it perfect, then they find a solution for it, which is really beautiful," she said.

The project titled "Rhapsody in Bloom" covers the wall of the lifeguard building at Arlington Park Aquatic Complex, and created during the Community Paint Day and Kids’ Wellness Fair on Nov. 15.

The event also featured an area with games and local vendors. Inspired by the coastal beauty of Sarasota, funding for the mural is through the City of Sarasota's Public Art Program. 

"This is great — so much fun," said Jennifer Hazeltine, who attended with her daughters Scarlett Hazeltine, 3, and Savannah Hazeltine, 18 months.

Hazeltine said she had followed Silvers online for a while, and when she saw she was creating the mural, she decided to head out to join the project. 

"It's just a fun thing to be a part of, because it will be here gosh, who knows how long, and they can be a part of it," she said. 

Silver's first community mural was at Art Center Sarasota in 2022, although it was removed due to renovations. She says she has also created close to 16 murals in the Sarasota area and three in St. Pete.

Silvers, who was born and raised in Switzerland, said she didn't have a community when she came to Sarasota in 2017.

"I think that's really like my way of giving back and saying thank you for accepting me and giving me such a beautiful community," she said.

With the community painting projects, she starts out by sketching out a design, then outlines all of the objects on the wall with numbers that correspond to those of the different paints. 

She said she thinks the projects have a huge effect on the people that participate, because everyone is excited to be involved, and when they return to that location, can point to the section they filled in.

"They wanted something tropical that fits the area, and I am a huge fan of very bright colors," said Silvers. "I think it has such a huge effect on mental health. If you look at something that's just like happy, bright colors, you have to be happy, almost, when you look at it."

She adds the finishing touches to the murals, including the upper sections that can only by reached by ladder.

"What was great about Alissa's proposal, and I think was one of the reasons we were so excited about it, was that she actually proposed the idea of the community paint day," said Ciera Coleman, public art administrator for the city of Sarasota.

Coleman said the city's public art plan frequently involves Parks and Recreation, and also that she is also passionate about using public art as a vehicle for public health. 

She said park staff identified the lifeguard building as one that could benefit from aesthetic improvements, and noted that location also hosts events throughout the year, including the Aqua Egg Hunt, Floating Pumpkin Patch and water aerobics events.

Coleman said with the public art plan that was adopted a year and a half ago, there will be more opportunities to pursue these types of community projects.