Mural celebrates Tampa's Diversity - Kaleidoscope: A Heritage of Color

Macfarlane Park Mural Celebrates West Tampa Pioneers

Tampa, FL November 1, 2007 - Citizens and community leaders will join Mayor Pam Iorio to unveil a new mural at Macfarlane Park in West Tampa. The event will take place on Monday, November 5, 2007 at 2 p.m. The mural, titled Kaleidoscope: a Heritage of Color, can be found at the south end of the park. Macfarlane Park is located at 1801 North Lincoln Avenue, Tampa. Local artists Edgar Sanchez Cumbas and Guillermo Portieles were selected as the team to create the West Tampa mural through a national call to artists. The mural was commissioned by the City of Tampa Public Art Program, in celebration of Arte 2007. In their initial concept, Cumbas and Portieles wanted to represent the hard working individuals in West Tampa “who embraced a thriving a social and cultural community through its broad mix of nationalities and religions.” From this concept and through much input from community leaders and historians, Kaleidoscope: a Heritage of Color was created. Individuals depicted in the mural include: Robert “Bob” Saunders, civil rights activist, NAACP Florida director (late 1950s – mid 1960s); Luisa Capetillo, women’s rights activist (early 1900s); José Martí, leader of Cuban independence from Spain, poet and writer (late 1800s); Hugh Macfarlane, Scottish immigrant and attorney, founded West Tampa (1892); and Fernando Figueredo, first Mayor of West Tampa, (1895).

For additional information, please contact Art Programs Manager Robin Nigh at (813) 274-8531 or robin.nigh@tampagov.net.