Art In Public Places Finalist Submissions for Aquatic Center

Miami-Dade County’s “Art In Public Places” is one of the first public art programs in the country, whereby 1.5% of the construction cost for all governmental buildings in every Miami-Dade County municipality is set aside by County Ordinance for the purchase or commission and maintenance of site-specific artwork.  The focus of the program is on site-specific, collaborative projects that involve the thinking of artists, landscape architects, historians, engineers, and architects in a team approach. Creative problem solving through innovative collaborations results in projects that validate, define, and expand community identity. The goals of the program are several: to enhance the artistic heritage of Miami-Dade County, to give dimension to the public environment for residents and visitors, to increase public awareness to works of art, and to promote understanding and awareness of the visual arts.

With construction commencing for the Miami-Springs Aquatic Center, a “Call To Artists” (attached below) was issued for this complex. Thirteen artists/art collectives submitted qualifications packages and images of past work.  The viewing and scoring were done in September by a Council-appointed City of Miami Springs “Art In Public Places” Ad Hoc Citizens Advisory Committee.  They selected five artists to develop and present site-specific proposals for the Aquatic Center: Alfredo and Pavlina Alea, Antuan Rodriguez, Alexander Leon, Carlos Pereira and Xavier Cortada. These presentations were made in a public meeting on November 17th, and are able to be viewed (in various formats) at:

Alfredo and Pavlina Alea http://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Qp6FVa2dvSVjlkeWZXYXdWMlk/view?pli=1  

Antuan Rodriguez http://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Qp6FVa2dvSMldSeGVGaXpYSlk/view?pli=1

Alexander Leon http://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Qp6FVa2dvSQUJMS3ljN2M1ZVU/view?pli=1 

Carlos Pereira http://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Qp6FVa2dvSZnRwV3FtTWxyU2M/view?pli=1 and http://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Qp6FVa2dvSZG95MDloUTNDSlk/view?pli=1 and http://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Qp6FVa2dvScjhkaGhaR28tRGc/view?pli=1

Xavier Cortada http://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Qp6FVa2dvSTUwwZVhJOUJLbXM/view?pli=1 

The City Council is reviewing all five of these specific proposals, and will consider the Committee recommendations at the December 14th Council Meeting along with the construction team recommendations for the overall color scheme of the new complex.  It is expected that decisions on both of these items will be made at that time.