Clans of The Seminole Tribe of Florida Mural Unveiled by Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority

This project has been done in collaboration with The Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority, Sperry and Associates and the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum of Seminole Culture and History by artists Wilson Bowers and Samuel Tommie through a grant received from the Community Foundation of North Florida.
The idea to work with the Seminole Tribe of Florida came from Elizabeth Emmanuel’s desire to increase cultural representation through art. “We’d found success in public art projects in 2020, and had a wonderfully diverse set of artists creating content that spoke to them. Here in Tallahassee we have art work about Seminoles, but none of it was created by Tribal members. I’d seen some really impactful pieces by Tribal Artists in South Florida and wanted to work directly with the Tribe to find an opportunity for them to tell their story. Jay Revell came to me with the site, and said he’d hoped to see something large scale and engaging for the community. It was the perfect opportunity.”
The Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority received a grant in 2020 from the Knight Foundation through the Community Foundation of North Florida. “The Community Foundation of North Florida is pleased to partner with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to help them invest in projects that contribute to a more vibrant community. This mural enhances Tallahassee’s downtown with public art that can be enjoyed by all.” Katrina Rolle, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of North Florida.
Artists are Wilson Bowers and Samuel Tommie from the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Accomplished professional artists who use a wide range of mediums, they are both members of the Bird Clan. Wilson grew up on Big Cypress Reservation. He now lives in Hollywood, Florida. Samuel was born at one of the islands on the open prairie river of the Everglades. It was a river lifestyle his family had lived since the 1800’s.
The 135 foot mural depicts the Artists version of the Seminole Tribe’s creation story. It features symbolic elements, Wind and the Earth, the wind (Creator) that blew his favorite animals onto the earth, which ultimately became the Mothers of The Tribe: Panther, Bird, Bear, Deer, Snake, and Otter. The mural also shows a blend of a Chickee, a traditional Seminole house, made of Palmetto leaves over a cypress log frame, still utilized today- and and Big Town (Toad) one of the Clan Animals. The woman in the center represents anyone- it is meant to welcome everyone. On either side of the Clans are diamonds with patchwork in a modern design. They depict a series of colors representing fire and sun. Fire is of cultural significance and traditional to each clan’s village.
Artist Wilson Bowers of the Seminole Tribe has said, “I hope it helps provide an appreciation for who we are as a people, our history and culture that still survives today.”
On Wednesday, April 27, at 10am there will be an official “unveiling” of the mural at 728 S. Macomb Street. The artists, in addition to Mayor John Dailey, FSU President Richard McCullough, TDIA Board Chair Slaton Murray, and Gordon “Ollie” Wareham and Marcella Billie from the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum along with other members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida will be present. The public is invited to attend.
Our Work is to make downtown work better, promoting Tallahassee Downtown as a growing destination for development through business, entrepreneurship, ongoing education, resources, and entertainment for any individual. We were created by state statute in 1971, and it has since been our mission to bring more businesses, community members, satisfaction, and safety into the heart of our community. In our special taxing district, we have 630 businesses, 20,000 employees (one-tenth of the workforce!), 889 hotel rooms, 23 restaurants, 11 museums and galleries, 10 parks, and so much more to offer the community. We advocate for our businesses’ needs, addressing key issues like seasonal foot traffic, beautification, and asset promotion. For more information about the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority, please visit http://tlhdowntown.com/