Bloom - Laser Cut Stainless and Corten Steel with Choreographed LED Lighting

Crescent Lucerne Communities

Orlando, FL

40’ x 40’

Laser Cut Stainless & Corten Steel with Choreographed LED Lighting 2019

Public Art Design Inspiration: Florida’s Native and Endemic Wildflowers

The Bloom sculpture and LED Light programming celebrates the unique ecological significance of Florida’s biodiversity. Biodiversity, or “biological diversity,” refers to the variety of plants, animals and other living things in a particular area or region. The flower patterns and shapes are inspired by seven native and endemic wildflowers that bloom in Orange County, Florida. The goal of the artwork is to foster public recognition of the spectacular diversity of Orange county and recognize a treasure that’s to be valued and habitats to be protected.

Florida is ranked as the seventh most biologically rich state in the continental U.S with 4,368 unique species with 14.3% of these species considered “At Risk”. The landscapes of Florida represent a rare jewel in America’s crown of great natural spaces. To be recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot, a region must contain at least 1,500 endemic plant species found nowhere else in the world and have experienced more than 70 percent habitat loss. The Coastal Plain has 1,816 endemic plants and has suffered an 85.5 percent loss of natural habitat. Florida is entirely within the Coastal Plain and is the richest area biologically, but also the most threatened.

A grouping or a field of wildflowers is one of the most beautiful experiences we can encounter in nature. But wildflowers also support entire ecosystems for pollinators, birds, and small animals on a micro scale. Butterflies and other insects, small birds, and animals depend on seeds, nectar, and pollen for their food supply and life support system.The natural plants have adapted to an amazing array of habitats and microclimates in the region, achieving a balance with other living things and forming the foundation for all life.

While interacting with the sculpture, you encounter several of the plant species that you find in Florida’s natural ecosystems, as though you’ve been transported to an over sized garden in the wild. The goal is to foster public recognition of the spectacularly diverse flora of Orange County and recognize a treasure that’s to be valued and habitats to be protected. The preservation of Florida's rich biodiversity is critical to maintaining the unique and unparalleled natural beauty of the state