The south entrance to historic Ybor City will be made significantly more attractive this spring. Ybor City resident and business owner Maj. Gen. Dave Scott (Ret.) is leading the community effort behind the Adamo Drive Mural Project, which will depict the culture, heritage and vitality of Ybor City and Tampa.

The 35 by 360-foot mural is located on the Fabricated Products building at Adamo Drive (State Route 60) and 17th Street. Artist Michael Parker led the team of artists - 14 students enrolled in Selected Topics in Art: Community Mural Project class at Hillsborough Community College’s Ybor City campus.

The mural is a public-private partnership two years in the making. Funding comes from $20,000 in donations and a $10,000 contribution from the City of Tampa. Corrosion Specialties, Inc. loaned vapor-blasting equipment to Kevin Schwiekhart, coatings specialist with Protective Coating Solutions, to remove loose paint and debris from the building's exterior surface. Additional donations are welcome at www.yborartproject.com.

The mural will be competed in May 2013. Join Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn for a dedication ceremony on Tuesday, May 21 at 2 p.m.

About the Design

Adamo Drive Mural Project leaders sought community input in order to form an accurate, contemporary representation of Ybor City’s identity. Ideas came from people who live or work in the community and/or are closely associated with the people, events and images that tell the Ybor City and Tampa story.

Three community brainstorming sessions took place at Ybor City Development Corp. in March where Parker and students asked community members to share uniquely Ybor experiences. Idea were also submitted online at http://adamomural.tumblr.com.

Next, a series of community workshops were created. The first set of the community workshops focused on basic painting skills, elements of color, and mural scaling techniques. Participants in the free class on February 18 took many small sketches and scale them to create a mini mural. The March 3 workshop discussed the importance of composition, perspective, and balance using the medium of collage.

Parker presented the concept to the Barrio Latino on April 17, 2012.

News about the Mural Project

Massive mural to adorn Adamo Drive
My Fox Tampa Bay - ‎Apr 27, 2012‎
A giant mural will be painted on the side of a warehouse, and organizers say it's going to boost tourism, and transform the area. Read more from My Fox Tampa Bay.

Mural on edge of Ybor City to spruce up gritty stretch of Adamo Drive
Tampa Bay Times - ‎Apr 26, 2012‎
Once completed this summer, the 12,600-square-foot artwork promises to be the largest public mural in Florida and depict the heritage and culture of Ybor, said the artist, Michael Parker. It will welcome people to Ybor and transform the look of Adamo's west end. Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.

Work Begins On Adamo Drive Mural Project, Ybor City
83degreesmedia.com - Apr 16, 2012
A two-part project, the approximately $30,000 Adamo Drive Mural Project will make an attempt to enhance the appeal of the Ybor City Historic District, transforming industrial weather-beaten portions of Adamo Drive into a work of art representing the culture, heritage and vitality of both Ybor City and Tampa. Read more from 83 degrees.

Work begins on Adamo Drive to Prep Building for Paint
Seminole Heights Patch - March 30, 2012
The Adamo Drive Mural Project, striving to create a giant mural depicting the culture, heritage, and vitality of Ybor City and Tampa, moved into high gear this week. Read more from Seminole Heights Patch.

Adamo Dr. Mural Project to cover 10000 sq. ft. wall in Ybor City
Bay News 9 - February 18, 2012
Art students at Hillsborough Community College's Ybor City campus are taking their skills out of the classroom and onto the streets as they prepare to make one of the largest murals in the state of Florida. Read more from Bay News 9.

Mural to highlight Ybor City, Tampa
Tampa Tribune - February 13, 2012
As the first step of a project to add art to an industrial stretch of south Ybor City, a local artist and 14 of his students will paint a 35-by-360-foot mural on an Adamo Drive building. Read more from the Tribune.

For more information

Please visit www.yborartproject.com or contribute to the community conversation online at http://adamomural.tumblr.com. Anyone interested in participating in the design or production workshops should contact Michael Parker at (813) 846-2000 or ybormuralproject@gmail.com.