Florida Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

-- Published October 2003 in the Florida Art and History Magazine, Tallahassee, FL

5 FALL  2003 SPECIAL  SECTION  SPONSORED BY  THE  FLORIDA  DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE FLORIDA CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15, Miami-based, Cuban-American artist Xavier Cortada has created, for display in the state Capitol, two large-scale murals depicting Florida’s Hispanic heritage. The creation of the murals is part of a statewide celebration, initiated by Governor Jeb Bush, to commemorate five centuries of Hispanic history, culture, and prosperity in Florida. Well-known for his collaborative public artwork, Cortada has previously completed commissions for the White House, The World Bank, and numerous other organizations.  For this project,  he worked solo to create two large murals, each measuring 57" x 118" illustrating Florida’s unique Hispanic history. One mural portrays the first encounter between Ponce de Leon and Florida’s indigenous residents against the back-drop of a beach and mangroves. “The mangroves’ walking feet serve as a metaphor for the growth and evolution of the state,” states Cortada. The second mural captures the journey many others have made since Ponce de Leon named the state “La Florida.” Cortada’s murals will be on display on the plaza level of the Capitol in Tallahassee through October 31. For more information about Xavier Cortada, visit http://www.cortada.com.