Art Environments with Patti

Did you know that SHAMc and WhimzeyLand are considered art environments? These are spaces where artists turn their surroundings into immersive, large-scale works of art—blending sculpture, architecture, mosaic, and imagination. Unlike galleries or museums, art environments are lived-in, evolving creations meant to be experienced with all the senses.

SHAMc Volunteer Coordinator Patti Samuels

Our Volunteer Coordinator, Patti Samuels, has visited some of these extraordinary places. “Whimzey was probably my first,” she recalls. “Then Hacienda Mosaica in Mexico—I went with the SHAMc group. It blew my mind. Still does when I think about it.”

Her journey didn’t stop there. “In April, per Heather’s advice, I went to The Tarot Garden in Tuscany, Italy. The artist Niki de Saint Phalle created mosaic sculptures so big you can actually live inside them. Every piece has deep meaning—one even has her life story written across it, which made all the art come to life in a different way.”

From WhimzeyLand in Safety Harbor to mosaicked wonderlands abroad, Patti’s adventures remind us that SHAMc is part of a worldwide movement of visionary artists creating spaces where art is the environment. When you step through our doors—or wander down to WhimzeyLand—you’re entering a living, breathing artwork, connected to a much larger creative tradition.