Me and my wife always try and go for a nice walk on Saturday, because it is a great way to see the outside world, and a nice way to spend some time together.
The last couple of weeks we have been going into downtown Tampa and walking around and learning about the city we have lived in for the last 3 years. A few weeks back we did the riverside walk and read all the plaques, and then last week we walked down Central Avenue, which used to be known as The Scrub, which was the largest and oldest of Tampa’s African American neighbourhoods.
From the road you could only really see the sculpture park, and that was all we were really aware of as we started the walk. As we got into the park though it became obvious that there was some kind of display on one side. What we found there were these amazing optical tiles that gave you a wonderful journey through the history of this place. It was really moving, and really gave you an idea of how much art can transform a space and serve to educate people in an easy and very elegant way.
Music, civil rights, and advances in education, as well as religion all played into the development of The Scrub. You should check it out online or go down there and walk the walk if you have the chance. I don’t want to tell you about all I learned because there was a certain magic in the discovery.
Art is important, and anyone that doesn’t recognise that should probably not be paid much attention to.