CRISSALAS

 “People celebrating at the Mercado”  is a permanent public art mosaic installation commissioned by the CRA (Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency) and completed in February 2025. Consists of a mural wall (10’ by 35’ approximately) and 9 planters. The design is inspired by colorful fruits and the trees they belong to. The intention is to create a visual story where a diverse community of people come together to celebrate at an imagined mercado where the wildlife of Clearwater and agricultural fruit trees thrive along humans.

A tree is embracing the light of the sun. A couple hugging. Fish and a manatee represent the marine wildlife of Florida. A roseate spoonbill is flying with the ocean as background. There is a palm, banana and papaya tree as well as a pineapple plant which connect the mural to the planters theme. A father with her daughter are coming to a concert. Where a man plays a trumpet and a woman signs while playing her guitar. Three other people are bringing fruits. A green iguana standing on a rock represents the reptiles of Florida. Two kids are running freely. Five people are eating at a red table. A cat is passing by. Six people are dancing while holding a star piñata. The moon is showing the night sky at the right section of the mural.

Each planter is decorated with a different color tile and fruit such as: watermelon, avocado, papaya, orange, strawberry, lemon, pineapple, jackfruit and passion fruit. Flowers, insects and birds are part of the mercado showing the importance of pollinators.

This project would not have been possible without the support and contributions of: Grégoire Cachet, Jacqueline Gerritsen, Matilda Lunar, NY Tiles, Andru Eron, Amélie Gaulier, Tobey Munari, Patricia Dueñas, Amber Brice and the community of Clearwater who came to visit us during the process of making this project.