Just as Peterson was arriving on the scene, Claudia asked if there was ever a time when murals were looked down upon. Both Chris and Peterson chimed in, exploring the past regarding artists such as Keith Haring,  Shepard Fairey, and Ron English.

Peterson, a graduate of CCS in Detroit, was part of the early Lowbrow art movement that gave birth to the B-Side Artists, a collective that once took over street corners outside the plaza where the Debonaire now stands, selling art late into the night. “We were setting up from 7pm to midnight,” said Peterson. “There were no galleries, so we made space for ourselves.”

From those humble beginnings, Redtape’s work now reflects how much the city has evolved. Peterson noted that murals, once seen as promoting graffiti, have become city-sanctioned forms of cultural expression. “A lot of people weren’t educated on what a mural could be,” he said. Chris stated, “Now, more business owners appreciate it as an art form.”

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Peterson sees this moment as a turning point for Orlando. “You can’t have culture without art,” he said. “As much as they’re trying to take it out of schools, art is what brings people around. We're creating a story for Orlando itself.”

When thinking about the mural, Claudia said, “It’s supposed to remind you of what you wanted to achieve, what you aspire to be. You can do and be everything and anything. Go as far as you want to go. Just reach for the stars.”