THE LOCAL
BOCA CHATTER
PIECES OF ART
Glistening in the sunlight, a new mosaic made up of 217,000 half-inch tiles is the newest addition to Boca Raton’s growing public art scene. Located by the family pavilion at Sugar Sand Park, the large-scale mosaic Boca Raton Mosaic Composition 1 showcases the native flora and fauna of South Florida—and is the first mosaic at a district-owned park. The piece was conceptualized from watercolor works by James Prosek, whose work has been on display everywhere from the Norton Museum of Art to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the Yale Center for British Art, the Asia Society Hong Kong Center and more. He’s known for marrying his love of conservation with his art, and after selecting watercolors he’s created over the last 20 years, Boston-based Artaic translated the painted works onto the many different colored tiles to make the mosaic. Now, what was an unassuming wall is filled with imagery of alligators, sea turtles, spoonbill, mangroves, seagrapes, hammerhead sharks, and in the distance, a fishing boat. In a crest over the piece, the lunar cycle represents the tidal cycle, a passage of time, day in and day out. The permanent mosaic is free for all to enjoy.
The new mosaic at Sugar Sand Park
Locals sound off on issues affecting our community.
In this issue, we go behind the vault at various cultural institutions. What’s your favorite hidden gem in Palm Beach County?
EMAGEN PHOTO
—Carolina Panoff, founder of Be You Disco
LOCAL CHATTER FEB25.indd 30
“George Snow Park in Boca Raton is a hidden gem. The walking path is a quick half-mile, so two to four laps are easy, and it’s almost all under the tree canopy for cool shade. Even the brutally hot days make for a pleasant walk/easy workout.”
—Martin D. Castellanos, instructor/owner of UMTC, LLC
“My hidden gem is the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, where my stress melts away in its natural beauty. It is a special portal that takes me to Japan, where I can experience and learn Japanese cultural arts, and walk in 16 acres of serene lush gardens. The best part is no passport needed!”
—Wendy Lo, curator of education at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
ANDREW MILLAR
“One of my favorite hidden gems in Palm Beach County is Le Bilboquet. It has this effortlessly cool, understated vibe that makes it feel like a little escape—like you’re tucked away somewhere in Europe for the night. The French-inspired dishes are spot-on, and the ambiance is so laid-back yet elegant.”
1/3/25 11:32 AM