Murals

To feel the true value of a mural you really need to be immersed in the space.

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

This mural is a two part proposal connected at the top of 20 feet high and 37 feet wide. In the original drawings was room for a fireplace.The mural depicts the origin and global character of the University of Miami. The horizon of Planet Earth connects the old Florida to the new and is designed to symbolize the global atmosphere of the University of Miami. The scene goes from a very detailed painting with a local focus on Coral Gables, the “greenest city in America” to a larger view that encompasses the campus, the sea and sky. The detailed sections of the mural are at eye level, designed to draw the viewers’ eye into the scene.

PORTRAIT OF THE FOUNDERS

The symbols of the various scenes are as follows: On the left part of the wall in the living room is a life-size picture of the founders of the University. From left to right, Phineas Paist, Denman Flink, Frederic Zeigen, Myrtle Zeigen, Bertha M. Foster and Clara Price gathered on January 14, 1926. They look at plans for the Spanish Renaissance-style campus, which is also depicted high from aearly stages of the portrait of the founders of UMn aerial perspective in a newly-designed Coral Gables.

THE COLORS ORANGE, GREEN AND WHITE

Behind them is a fruit-bearing orange tree, not only as a symbol of fruitful endeavor but the inspiration for the colors of the University, orange and green. Old Florida used to have a lot of scrub pines, Sable Palmettos and Oaks before the palm trees, orange trees and Banyans claimed their existence. In this picture we see all native plants. In the middle stands the “Cardboard College,” a converted hotel where people studied while waiting for the Merrick building to be finished. Hurricanes had left plans idle for decades. The building was called “The Skeleton,” until 1950 when the building’s foundation was used to construct the School of Business as it stands today.In the sky is the Ibis, mascot of the university. The horizon of Planet Earth is made visible and stretches over the whole wall not only to connect the old and the new campus but also to emphasize the global importance of The University of Miami.

On the right we see a crowd, which represents all the students throughout the school’s existence – the alumni. People are dressed in different styles following the trends of the decades and are of all races, genders and cultures. The University now is not only one building, but many different buildings in different places. The Richter Library in the middle is the only common place where everyone has been at least once, and therefore, it is shown in the center. In the right corner is the internationally recognized Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science in Key Biscayne. The foliage is abundant and now includes many exotic species. Shown in the picture are palm trees, Birds of Paradise, Gumbo Limbo, Fan Palms and ginger. The Key of Knowledge is hidden somewhere. Try to find it.

Alumni Center of the University of Miami, Florida

Jacobina was commissioned to paint a mural for the new Robert and Judi Prokop Alumni Center of the University of Miami, Florida. The wall measures 6 x 13 meters or 20x 37 feet. The first draft was presented in January of 2009.

Alumni Center of the University of Miami, Florida

The two sides were originally divided by a fireplace. On the left is the Old Florida, the start of the University and its founders between native foliage and a non native orange tree. On the right is what it has become; a multicultural campus with many buildings and all different species of plants.

I insisted on having real people pose for the students of today in exactly the way they are dressed and behaved. All the people depicted at eyelevel are from different era’s, dressed in the trend of those days. The library is the center of all time, and all the various faculties.

Alumni Center of the University of Miami, Florida

The idea was to make the University of Miami a global experience symbolized by the horizon as the edge of Planet Earth. It also connects the old and the new together.

Adams & Adams

The mural in this courtyard was originally designed to make the place look bigger. The main wall measures 14 feet tall by 24 feet wide. Some of the items (fountain, bricks and tree are real and others are painted)

This was such a fun project because instead of a narrow courtyard, smusched in between buildings, with mildew and a dark mood, the painting in the blue hues gave the visitor a sense of vacation and travel. It opened up the whole office and one could linger and dream of exotic places to go.

Adams & Adams

Standing among the freshly painting surroundings I like to play a little joke with the cameraman and act as if I am leaning on the painted balustrade. Of course this is a flat wall.

Adams & Adams

Painting tropical foliage

Olympus Latin America

This mural for the headquarters of Olympus Latin America was painted on four panels of canvas and never mounted to the walls. This came in handy when they moved four months after it was installed. Each panel is 92×54 inches.

First we talked about painting the image straight unto the wall. Later we changed this into four seperate panels. Two months after the installment they moved to another building.

Olympus Latin America

With limited use of colours I painted this straight unto the plastered wall. The pigment soaked into the plaster and gave it a soft old world look. Over time it would get better, because the elements like air and humidity would work into the image and change direction.

Olympus Latin America

The center of the home is the tv, or the movie screen. At the same time, when it is not in use it is time for family get-togethers.

Olympus Latin America

I painted many walls for children’s rooms but this was exceptional because the wall was round so the children could not hear the parents talk when they were at the doctor’s office. It created a true silent underwater atmosphere.