03/03/2026
The paper InMenlo has been following me these past few years as I was painting in Menlo Park (Laurel school, oak knoll school, Laurel again, left bank in downtown Menlo Park and more recently willow commons in portola valley!
Read the latest article by Linda Hubbard:
Local artist Flo is back at it again, bringing color and connection to our community—this time at Willow Commons, an intentional apartment community where 16 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism live together.
From the very beginning, Flo ensured the residents were collaborators in the creative process. In early conversations, residents chose the theme for three new murals: local wildlife set in a landscape. Follow-up discussions helped determine which animals would take center stage—a bobcat, deer, and chipmunks. To visually connect the three murals, Flo added flying Canada geese soaring across each scene.
When the murals were complete, the project didn’t end there. Flo invited residents to create artwork of their own—painting on canvas or coloring on paper—using the finished murals as inspiration. The result was a vibrant and diverse collection of personal creations.
“Painting three murals and finding ways to have the residents own the project and collaborate with me was deeply moving and meaningful,” Flo shared. “Whether my artwork is showcased in private homes, hospitals like LPCH, PAMF, and Stanford Children’s Hospital, or murals that beautify low-income schools and housing, these projects are all very dear to me. But I admit the project at Willow Commons gave me some of the greatest satisfaction when I saw and heard how much joy it brought to the residents.”
