The District Magazine Vol. 1 Issue 2, Summer 2016 | Page 33

As an artist, I am grateful that Tampa Bay is continually
finding imaginative ways to link modern culture with our
rich military history, immigration, cigar factories, and
mafia legends near and dear to our community’s heart.
Ybor City should be applauded, maybe even canoodled,
for doing just that in 2013.
An abundance of colorful collage images in the mural
along E Adamo Drive showcase the Legacy of Ybor City
and Tampa. Both public and private efforts contributed to
this mural that covers 12,000 square feet of corrugated
metal surface, spanning two city blocks. Muralist Michael
Parker, graduate of USF with a master’s degree in fine arts,
designed and produced it with the support of community
volunteers and art students from Hillsborough Community
College Ybor Campus.
The chair for the Ybor Art Project is Dave Scott, retired
Deputy Director of the Center for Special Operations,
U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill AFB. His
grand vision and determination was able to bring an entire
community together, raise funding, and implement one of
the largest murals in Florida. Let’s repeat that one more
time. Largest in Florida!

Tampa Bay area troops, particularly honoring the sacrifices
of Sgt. Michael Nicholson, as well as other returning
veterans and the entire military community. This mural is
at 720 Zack Street on the north wall of the museum.
Check out the official website for artist and creative
patriot Scott LoBaido at www.scottbaido.com

Free workshops, taught by the artist, Mike Parker, helped
collaboratively form the overall theme and imagery of the
Ybor Art Project Mural. “The final design incorporates
three integrating themes and six individual messages
reflecting the experience of the Ybor National Historic
Landmark District, past and present,” as explained on the
www.yborartproject.com website. An immigrant family
stands at the far left, in beginning the “Journey through
Life” theme. The multitude of faces looking left and right
helped tell the “conflict between tradition and progress”
theme, all historical figures rich in Tampa history. Lastly,
the “American Experience” theme is about the values of
our nation and the people continuously seeking freedom.
I have to admit, the excitement and passion for the arts in
Downtown, Ybor City, and Channel District is encouraging
nonetheless. Collectively, we all need to work together
to catapult the arts scene through these neighboring
areas. The creative minds of professional artists, when
supported by city organizations, pillars in the community,
entrepreneurs, and art councils can excel and create a
grand-scale, visual impact to help inspire and motivate all
who encounter it.
So go enjoy exploring the unexpected nooks where
incredible murals are exhibited on our city walls this
summer. It has been a pleasure verbally strolling through
town and sharing the often unknown backstories to these
massive works of art. I’ll leave you with this last piece
of advice: the large solid walls on buildings are not a
monochrome attempt at minimalism.
THE DISTRICT - TAMPA’S URBAN DWELLING MAGAZINE

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