Miami-Dade Housing Authority commissioned Xavier Cortada to create public artworks for Collins Park Apartments. The floral theme of Cortada’s artworks in this building extends to the state’s 500-year history and to the building’s namesake, pioneer John Collins, whose first South Florida venture was in agriculture. John Collins turned from coconut and avocado growing to resort development in the early 1900s. He built the first canal and bridge connections between Miami Beach and Miami, where pioneers Julia Tuttle and the Brickell family were earnestly engaged in creating the new city of Miami. Tuttle’s famous orange blossom enticed Henry Flagler to extend his rail line south to begin a century of exploitation of this uniquely attractive terrain.