Community Beautification

Located at 124 S Franklin Street in Downtown Tampa, the Frames on Franklin artwork on the wall of the Selmon Expressway is a part of the Downtown Partnership Beautification Program, which installed images from the same series of artwork onto traffic signal boxes throughout downtown Tampa. The vibrant, poster-style artwork was created by artist Tim Boatright, a Tampa native, and was inspired by vintage travel posters, cigar box art, and fruit crate labels – all of which are important parts of Tampa’s rich history.

Boatright's goal was to capture and celebrate Tampathrough six city icons: the Tampa Theatre, the Port of Tampa, Tampa City Hall, the Tampa Riverwalk, the University of Tampa, and the Floridan Hotel.

THEA installed Frames on Franklin in May 2014 working with the Downtown Partnership, City of Tampa Art Programs, and the Tampa Convention Center, to enhance this heavily trafficked area with public art that celebrates the city.

Brandon Tower was an important aesthetic consideration when THEA decided to build Brandon Parkway, a three-mile toll-free parkway that feeds traffic on and off the Selmon Expressway’s Reversible Express Lanes (REL).

Seventeen feet tall and six feet wide, Brandon Tower was brought to the Brandon community in partnership with the Brandon Fine Arts Council and the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. This public art is a great example of how THEA actives spaces to improve safety and enhance community.

When art is unleashed, community thrives. The people wall is an art installation that represents the vibrant and prosperous community of Brandon.

We commissioned the renowned local artist, Ales “Bask” Hostomsky, to create the mural located under the shade of the Selmon Expressway which enhances the experience of our award-winning pocket park, the Deputy John Kotfila Memorial Dog Park. Thousands of people come downtown with their furry friends to play at the park every week. The mural’s message,“Play Nice Tampa”, is themed around the element of getting downtown with your pups and neighbors. . With Play Nice Tampa, you will see the artist’s multi-layered signature technique and find a bold mural that can be viewed in parts or as a whole with walls and columns making a broad, sweeping expression of art.

We chose to name our property, the Selmon Expressway, after Lee Roy Selmon and are honored to pay tribute to a man who was so deeply admired and respected in our community. After seeing Joel Randell’s bronze sculpture of Perry Harvey Sr. at the Perry Harvey , Sr. Park in downtown Tampa, we knew Randell was the right artist to capture the essence of Selmon . Being from Oklahoma, Randell had been a football fan of Lee Roy Selmon and was well aware of the family legacy at the University of Oklahoma. Selmon is regarded as one of the University’s all-time football greats.

With input from Mrs. Selmon, we worked with Randell to design a statue that would reflect a man who was so much more than just a football legend. He was a family man, a businessman, a leader, and a mentor at the University of South Florida, and a friend to all.

The statue’s permanent home is along the Selmon Greenway on the corner of Florida Avenue and Brorein Avenue. It stands 8 feet tall and is built of a “heroic scale” to commemorate a man who was larger than life. As represented in the statue, Lee Roy has a firm, bold stance and strong stature with a kind expression on his face. His left-hand makes the USF Bulls gesture while his right-hand rests on his hip in a characteristic stance. His business-casual outfit reflects the different aspects of his life, and he wears his #63 jersey from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Randell sculpts oil-based clay into a pre-designed model that is taken to a foundry for casting. The statue is 800 pounds of hollowed bronze and a powerful tribute to a man that was loved, respected, and touched so many lives. He was a true inspiration in what it means to live a good life.

Commissioned by the City of Tampa and funded in part by the 2012 Republican National Host Committee, Tampa Together is an aluminum and stainless-steel sculpture by world-renowned glass artist, Catherine Woods. Located in a pocket park along the Selmon Greenway, Tampa Together recognizes and honors the diversity of Tampa’s different neighborhoods and communities. The piece celebrates Tampa’s diverse citizenry and reminds us that we can do all things as a city when we work together. Taking into consideration the personality of Tampa’s downtown, Tampa Together transforms the spirit of the city into an iconic statement that reflects a universal human experience. The voting button celebrates the democratic process and commemorates the City of Tampa hosting the 2012 Republican National Convention.