The Dragon's Head Blog: Another Connection for the International Center Florida with the City of Dunedin Community

Along with Dunedin’s rich Scottish History,  we have a history of oranges,  orange groves, and citrus packing. From the early 1880’s until the early 1950’s, when the oranges were packed, beautifully designed labels were made to go on each side of the fruit crates. 

 Dunedin resident and artist Steven Spathelf has admired,  collected and has been inspired by the designs of these vintage Fruit Crate Labels for years.  It has been an idea and dream of his to see some of these beautiful labels brought to life in mural form on the outside of prominent buildings in the downtown core.

On April 13th, 2009,  Steve Spathelf and fellow resident Marsha Goins secretly painted “loose” oranges around downtown at 5 am to see what reaction they would get to having orange related public art in Downtown.  The response was overwhelming.  People came from all over to see the oranges that created so much media attention to Downtown Dunedin,  and then asked….. “Why oranges”????

So,  the resurgence of Oranges and the history of Oranges in Dunedin was reborn. Now churches, community organizations, merchants and residents ask for Oranges to be painted on their buildings.

The International Center Florida has joined with the community to support the long history of oranges in Dunedin by asking this artist to paint oranges on the bungalow and practice hall.