Fort Pierce Courthouse Murals (Cultural Law/Natural Justice)
Fine Arts Collection
U.S. General Services Administration
Roberto Juarez’s monumental paintings address the cultural history and natural abundance of Fort Pierce and Central Florida.
Cultural Law is the more structured composition. Using bold geometric shapes and abstract patterns, Juarez conveys a sense of the order of law and includes colors and symbols representing the diverse cultures, such as the Miccosukee Tribe and Afro-Caribbean, found in the area. The agricultural tradition in Florida—specifically, that of citrus farming—is represented by large scale images of fruits.
Natural Justice is the more organic image. Juarez intended to bring an element of nature indoors to contrast with the order that reigns in a courthouse. Over-scaled images of the aquatic flora and fauna of Central Florida, such as starfish, corals and microscopic sea life, dominate the painting. The lobby ceiling’s metal trusses help to draw a metaphorical line from the configuration of the two paintings to the scales of Justice.
Seen together on the north and south walls of the lobby, the paintings serve as pendants, striking a subtle balance between abstraction and representation, culture and nature, law and justice.
