Artist and activist Steed Taylor will use “road tattoos,” to connect areas of West Palm Beach.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DESIGNBOOM.COM

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. (April 16, 2018)— Noted street artist Steed Taylor began creating and installing “road tattoo,” that will connect the downtown and Historic Northwest on Tuesday. Taylor was commissioned by the City of West Palm Beach, the Community Redevelopment Agency, and Related Companies to develop an original large scale, temporary public artwork street mural——on Rosemary Avenue commencing at Okeechobee Boulevard and continuing north to 11th Street.

“Steed Taylor’s road tattoo is one of several ways the City is working to rejoin the Historic Northwest and the Downtown,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio. “It’s our hope that, by walking the length of the installation, residents and visitors will better connect with the public spaces in our City and also other neighborhoods and communities.”

Three designs will be created and mixed throughout the length of the planned mural: Genii Loci will be a 1.2 mile, three color design that includes Florida native flowers and plants; a braided Celtic design symbolizing connectedness; and, at the entry point to the Historic Northwest district, the musical scale and notations representing the jazz standard “Round Midnight.” Genii Locii is expected to be the longest street tattoo ever made to showcase the power of the community.

The art will also achieve three goals suggested by Gehl Studios with whom the city contracted to find ways to improve quality of life of residents in our community.

The three goals include:

• Creating a safe and interesting crossing at Rosemary and Banyan Boulevard;

• Utilizing art as a tool to create an eye catching path along Rosemary;

• Implementation of traffic calming measures on Rosemary through alternative methods.

The creation and installation will run through May 1. It will feature the work of several local artists, students, and community groups who will lend their hands and creativity to the painting. Born near Fayetteville, North Carolina and educated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA in English and Studio Art concentrating in intaglio etching), and American University in Washington, DC (MBA in Marketing) and the Skowhegan School for Painting and Sculpture, Steed Taylor’s art practice includes public artwork as well as work for gallery settings.

His art has been shown around the country including the Bronx Museum, the Mint Museum, the San Bernardino County Museum, and the Neuberger Museum of Art’s 2001 Biennial Exhibition of Public Art. Besides extensive showings in the New York metropolitan area, his solo shows include The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Ambrosino Gallery in Miami, Florida and Il Ponte Contemporanea in Rome, Italy.

STREET TATTOO INSTALLATION DATES & STREET CLOSURES:

4/17-18: Rosemary between Okeechobee Blvd. and Hibiscus Street; 2 DAY CLOSING

4/19-20: Rosemary between Hibiscus Street and Fern Street; 2 DAY CLOSING

4/21-22: Rosemary between 2rd Street and 5th Street; 2 DAY CLOSING

4/22: Intersection of Rosemary and Evernia; NIGHT CLOSING (Intersection closed 8PM – 3AM.)

4/23-24: Rosemary between 5th Street and 8th Street; 2 DAY CLOSING

4/25-27: Rosemary between 8th Street and 11th Street, 3 DAY CLOSING

4/28-29: Rosemary between Datura Street and 2nd Street (including Clematis intersection); 2 DAY CLOSING

4/28: Intersection of Banyan and Rosemary; NIGHT CLOSING (Intersection closed 8PM – 3AM.) 4/29: Intersection of 3rd Street and Rosemary; NIGHT CLOSING (Intersection closed 8PM – 3AM.)

4/30-01: Rosemary between Fern Street and Datura Street; 2 DAY CLOSING