Monday, June 23, 2008

Publix Murals

When I think about Publix, I think about this:


The Publix in Ocala where my mom shopped when I was a child had one of these murals. I always associated Publix with the murals- and the S&H Green Stamp store next door.

Recently I rode my bike over to the Lakeland Wabash Publix and took pictures of the mural there. That is (obviously) where these photos came from. I decided I'd better get it done, because it dawned on me that the store had been vacant for so long, and some day, a new tenant might come along and remove the mural. While photographing various portions of the mural, I found the artist's information:


I spoke to Pati today by phone and she informed me that she glazed and fired about 200 murals for Publix stores throughout a 25-year period. Pretty amazing.

What are your thoughts on the murals? Are they a part of your childhood memories, too? Do you think they should be salvaged when Publix stores undergo remodeling or the stores get sold to other businesses?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love this post!!!!

Those were my favorite things when I'd go to Publix as a little kid!!!

My grandfather and I would sit outside and look at the mural while my grandmother went in to shop.

The Daily City® said...

I have a blog and podcast called orlandoartsblog.com and orlandoartspodcast.com. I'd love to interview Pati. Can you pass my websites to her and perhaps she may want to do a recorded interview over the phone? Thanks so much.

ROBERT C. PICKERING, THE INTERSTATE4JAMMER said...

Was what is now the Save-A-Lot in the old Searstown shopping centre on Memorial Avenue once a Publix? I ask because there is one of those murals there as well, except done by a different artist.

Anonymous said...

I was just wondering the other day what they're going to do with the mural outside the Publix on Cypress Gardens Blvd that is currently being remodeled.

Anonymous said...

Yes, the Searstown Sav-A-Lot was once a Publix.

Anonymous said...

Hi all,Lorrie was just here and we had a delightful chat.I'm on a new project teaching Tile Art to others here in the old Firehouse at Grenelefe Resorts,Haines City.The murals are my history and now I'm still on this journey called Life!!!Teaching,painting, creating and Kickboxing at Tigers World.
Thanks Lorrie for the interview and for spelling my name right"Pati"..Blessings and good luck on your career.

Lakelandmom said...

I think Publix should pay to take it down and move it to an existing store. It carries such an incredible history, one I remember well.