Art and Inspiration in a Florida Alley

[Mikeinthefalls]

Tucked into a seemingly normal alley in downtown Hollywood, Florida, between a photo studio advertising advertising passport photos and a vintage and vinyl records store, stands one of the most impressive murals I’ve stumbled upon…

“Mother Sun, Mother Moon”

We were riding bicycles throughout the streets of Hollywood in February of 2022 and happened upon this particular alley, in our attempt to detour around a classic car show that had closed Hollywood Blvd. I promise you, I almost fell from my bicycle when I first saw it!

Standing almost 6 meters tall and spanning almost 20 meters in length, she quickly becomes very noticeable and you are unable to pull your gaze away. You find yourself studying the patterns of the broken mirror and reflect on the times your life may have felt shattered, fragile or in what seems to be complete disarray.

While you are looking at it, something happens and you begin to see the beauty of those broken pieces… the reflecting light offers a warmth, the shadows hiding a strength and the filled cracks a sign of healing.

Those jagged pieces combine to form a bold mirror, shining a bright light like the Sun or the Moon. That light is like a beacon, lighting the path for others, inspiring hope and nurturing growth. Just as the subject in the mural is giving of herself to support and encourage the birds she’s feeding, while others find their way to her light!

The warm bright colors against the cool blue background also offer a visual warmth and comfort while the nesting birds bring about a feeling of the joys and excitement of new beginnings.

This is my interpretation of this beautiful mural and I hope you have enjoyed it! Do you agree, or no? What are your thoughts, how does it make you feel? I’d love to hear each of your viewpoints, that’s why I’m sharing make certain to comment and tag others you think might find this interesting!

Thank you for reading and my best to you all,

Michael

[JustJake]

@Mikeinthefalls This mural is massive! I’d say “good find” but how could anyone miss it

The mirror is such an incredible addition. I didn’t realize it was reflective until I read the description. First I thought it was just painted on, then I zoomed in to see it had dimension, but just thought it was tile. Only after looking AGAIN did I see there were different reflections in each picture. That’s a lot to take in.

[MelTG]

@JustJake it really was massive. The photo is not an illusion.

@Mikeinthefalls I love the stories behind the murals just as much as the art itself. What a beautiful piece of art.

[SanjayBDLG]

@Mikeinthefalls Thanks for the post.

[Mikeinthefalls]

@JustJake I’m glad the photos are able to convey it’s massive size! It’s painted a few strides up from the sidewalk, so you’d walk by and not notice more often than not. If not for the detour,I don’t know that I’d have ever seen it? So we’ll call it a good find

The mirror pieces definitely set this apart from your standard mural and lend themselves to the narrative running around in my head lol. It has a powerful presence and energy, makes you want to keep looking.

[Mikeinthefalls]

@MelTG thanks! I totally agree, the story behind the artwork, is definitely part of the art. Once I learn the artist’s inspiration, it allows me to internalize and try to feel what they felt. It is also nice to compare that to how I felt when first seeing the mural and see the similarities and differences.

[Mikeinthefalls]

@SanjayBDLG my pleasure, I’m glad you enjoyed!