Art In The Park

Above is a portion of the mural that will be installed on a wall within Sugar Sand Park in the coming weeks.

Soon, fish will swim and birds will fly in an unexpected place.

A prominent wall within Sugar Sand Park is about to be transformed into a scenic vista as part of  the City of Boca Raton “Public Art Boca” program.

“I think art at Sugar Sand is a terrific idea because it offers a visually engaging experience that can also become a photo opportunity for people who are going to the park,” District Commissioner Craig Ehrnst said.

During a ceremony scheduled for Friday, Dec. 6, City of Boca Raton and District officials will take part in a ribbon cutting, ceremoniously declaring renowned artist James Prosek's mural complete and open for viewing. A portion of that mural appears above.

For the mural, which depicts the connectivity of local ecosystems, Prosek drew inspiration from South Florida's plants and animals.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for an artist to have their work seen and hopefully enjoyed in a public space,” Prosek wrote to the District in a direct message. “I am super thrilled about it!”

Visitors to the park viewing the wall will gain a deeper appreciation for the region’s biodiversity, creating an educational and enriching experience for park goers young and old.

“People like to see art – colorful murals and things like that,” District Chair Erin Wright said of the project. “I love the art at Gumbo Limbo and Red Reef. The more art that people are exposed to, the better.”

The naturalist mosaic mural will be installed at the Family Pavilion on the exterior wall facing the sidewalk to the playground and carousel. It will instantly become one of park's most recognizable features.

“We look forward to seeing this project come to life, adding a new layer of beauty and significance to Sugar Sand Park,” District Executive Director Briann Harms said.

The installation at Sugar Sand will be the first at a District-owned park as part of Public Art Boca program.

Several District supported parks already feature murals, including Red Reef Park and the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.

Prosek's work has been shown at The Royal Academy of Arts in London, The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, The Yale Center for British Art, The Asia Society Hong Kong Center, The Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, The Addison Gallery of American Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The New Britain Museum of American Art, The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, The North Carolina Museum of Art, The National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC and the Yale University Art Gallery, among other institutions.