Arts and Culture

Photo of St Pete Skies
St Pete Skies
Andrew Reid
2002 - Acylic paint on canvas, Mahagony - 168' l, 2'x4'' w(mural), 3' w (panel)– Interior
Commission St. Petersburg Art in Public Places Percent for Art

St. Pete Skies offers a stylized view in four directions from the library, of the Pinellas Point neighborhood with an emphasis on the lush flora and local landmarks. At first glance the mural seems realistic. Closer inspection reveals the artist has freely altered the scale and perspective. A single plant looms in the foreground three times the size of a house

The South Branch Library collection’s emphasis on science and the natural life of Florida developed as a logical result of its previous location at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. The mural connects the new facility to its old location through the artist=s rendition of the natural setting left behind. The previous library facility (now an educational nature center) is depicted in the mural. Residential architecture typical of the neighborhood appears throughout as well people in the act of common activities such as fishing on Coquina Key, walking and riding bikes. Human figures are dwarfed by the impressive natural setting.

The mahogany skin lower section is designed to suggest a wooden beam integrated into the architecture of the room. It displays a stream of information, symbols, languages, representing the accumulation of knowledge since man=s earliest time on earth.

Location 29