The Story of "The Palm"

Inspired by a trip to Park Guell in Barcelona, the new owners of the Palm Cottages built a wall.  They contacted me because they had seen Uplifting.  

I was given complete freedom and 3 directives:

1. Mid-century Modern
2. Whimsical
3. Orange, Blue, Pink (hotel colors!)

As I walked through the space with Marikit and Farzad, they informed me that for them P.A.L.M. stood for Peace And Love Matter.

I decided in that moment that I wanted the job.

Who knew that peace and love started with so much cement!?!

Playful Retro Tropical

• Hexagon tiles from Spain hearken back to the Bauhaus era that was popular in the early 40's which inspired later Op art designs in the 50's.  I will arrange them in a way to emphasize that.
• The palm tree bark pattern porcelain is from Italy and will be accented by mosaic palm fronds.
• Large white tropical flowers made in my kiln will be a focal point of each undulating curve in the wall. 
• The hotel colors will be in the painted areas of the wall and in playfully hand-crafted ceramic flowers.
• The pavement and areas under benches will have a pink tone reminiscent of  the famous pink hotels of the mid-century.

I decided to match the pavement to the surroundings rather than a light pink which would show dirt more.

I don't usually start with the floor but due to shipping delays, I had to start with something and had no tile pieces with which to work.

While arranging the Bauhaus tile I met a beautiful person who stayed in that cabin beyond.   She admired my work so much and shared her love of beads with me.  Those beads would later become her ultimate donation of love for my work.  (anonymous donor)

In the fall, a shadow of the courtyard palm tree fell exactly on the cement area left blank above.  This doesn't seem to happen any other time of year.  

 It gave me an idea...I stopped adding tile.

I quickly sketched this mosaic thought out and sent the image by text msg to my client. 

Because Marikit and Farzad understand that creative freedom can lead to better art, they allowed me to modify the initial plan many times. 

 What a blessing that they also didn't rush me.  Had I felt rushed, I would not have felt free to follow inspiration.

As winter came, the second phase began.  I worked in my studio on mosaic and ceramic creations.  What else could represent the 1950's?  

(Pink flamingo yard ornaments!- 1957)

Caring love is expressed by the placement of their heads touching gently.  The curve of their necks almost completing a symbolic heart shape is natural and suggestive.

If you look around the P.A.L.M., you will notice other family members too.

Carl & Clara almost didn't exist.

(My  initial design only called for palm patterned tile to be along the curve.)

They also touch their heads in sweet loving care and are surrounded by "Peace & Love" in 32 languages.  They rest on a marble mosaic heart symbol surrounded by large Guatemalan jade beads.  The nest they are in is made of recycled shards of glass to symbolize the harsh world and climate issues today.  If you sit on the bench across the way, you will see that the doves plus nest are in the shape of a human heart.

My hands worked like magic completing the doves out of clay in less than twenty minutes!  And... when I looked down into a pile of beads for adornment, I found the heart shape bead that looked like the world in the mix of hundreds of beads.   Click on "SEE ALL IMAGES" to see it and so much more.

I love big art.  Fortunately, I have many supportive contractors and volunteers that love it too.  

I could not have completed this work without these wonderful people:

Ilaena Hepford, Andrea Carmichael, 

Lori Schmidtberger, Emily Hatfield, Lauren Herrmann, Josh Bong, Ryan Stallings, the bead lady, my art students at 

Trails Outdoor School, and the many supportive encouragements of guests staying at the P.A.L.M. during creation.   

Krysta &  The P.A.L.M. 

 A true story of hard work and unexpected blessings.

Written and illustrated by the artist of the 

Peace And Love Courtyard, Krysta Bannis.