- December 4, 2025
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Artist Beck Lane created seven murals on the Avenue of Art in front of SEE Alliance, before that entire project was erased following a statewide order by the Florida Department of Transportation.
Her work included a piece at the building's entryway that Lane describes as "LGBTQ and all-inclusive" and a double-panel piece featuring the public schools of Sarasota.
"This isn't going to fly. There's no way this can fly. There's absolutely no way," Beck recalled thinking when she first read the memo from the state government.
Yet after the Sarasota City Commission voted during a Sept. 2 meeting to comply with the state order, citing threats to funding, what followed was the removal of the rainbow crosswalk in downtown Sarasota, along with some 300 sidewalk murals of the Avenue of Art in Burns Court.
However, at The Harvest Sarasota church, new color was introduced on Sept. 14.
Volunteers, including representatives and staff of local LGBTQ+ organizations like Project Pride and Equality Florida, worked together to create a new Progress Pride Flag crosswalk on the organization's property.
Lead Pastor Dan Minor said the church had not initially planned to create artwork in that space, but after seeing the removal of the memorial artwork at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, followed by the removal of art in Sarasota, he decided something had to be done.
Furthermore, Detroit-based artist Joey Salamon was in the area and able to assist.
Minor called the former Sarasota crosswalk "such a beam of light" in the city and said that after seeing it painted over with black, he was "so upset and angry" for his friends in the LGBTQ+ community, especially after hearing their responses.
"I mean, it's one thing to protest downtown, but this wasn't a let's go downtown and get loud and get angry," he said. "This is a let's pour some love out onto the streets here. … It's not a political statement. It's just about loving people better, and that's what we're about."
He called the turnout that day "incredible."
Beck praised The Harvest for taking a stand in the current political climate.
"Right now, it takes a tremendous amount of courage, in this climate, to say, you will not treat me with this level of disrespect, or the community with that level of disrespect," Beck said.
She also criticized the City Commission's decision.
"The commissioners just rolled over, and that's when my fury hit. … I found so many loopholes in so many ways. The city could have fought back," she said.
Another attendee looking to support the project was Siesta Key artist Stacey Palosky.
She creates pieces that include fluid art and paintings, and since January, has also been creating a mural on her property near the north bridge. She says it is connected to both her love of the beach and of the LGBTQ+ community.
She said projects like the one at The Harvest are a way to express continued support amid the current political situation.
"I think it's really important for us to continue to find every avenue to express support for all people in our community who are getting hurt," she said. "Both the Pride community, the immigrant community, they all need to know that they're supported and loved."
