Natural Beauty

Tampa artist John Gutcher took less than a week to complete the second city mural. This four panel mural included the city flower, the Punta Gorda Hibiscus; the city bird, the yellow crown night heron; a roseate spoonbill; and the famous tarpon sporting fish.

Original Mural: This mural was originally located at the town’s busiest intersection of West Marion Avenue and Tamiami Trail (US 41 North) and was dedicated on March 13, 1996. Its funding was a joint venture between the Kiwanis Club of Punta Gorda and the Punta Gorda Rotary Club. The original mural was destroyed by Hurricane “Charley” on August 13, 2004.

Recreation: Since the original artist had passed away, local artist Michael Vires was hired to recreate the original mural. The original rendering of the Hibiscus showed the flower with only 4 petals, so the re-painting was modified to show the correct number of petals (5) in the flower. The new mural was painted on the north wall of the FPL sub-station on East Virginia Avenue and Nesbit Street. The recreation was supported by a generous contribution from Florida Power and Light and rededicated on January 17, 2008.

Images

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