ART IN PUBLIC PLACES

The City of Miami Beach established an Art in Public Places program in 1984, following the example of successful programs in cities such as Seattle and New York. By ordinance, 1.5 percent of the cost of city-owned construction projects is set aside for “works of art in public places other than museums which enrich the public environment.”

To carry out this mandate, seven Miami Beach residents with special expertise and experience in the arts are appointed by the City commission to the Art in Public Places Committee.  

SOUTH POINTE PARK PIER GATE CALL TO ARTISTS

This year the Tourism and Cultural Development Department conducted a Call to Artists for an artistic intervention on the access gate of the South Pointe Park Pier.  The artists were required to propose an original design for the gate.   

The Art in Public Places Committee selection criteria was: (1) Quality of the artists' proposal; (2) Aesthetic merit and enduring value; and (3) Experience and other qualifications of the artist.  

Four proposals for the South Pointe Park Pier Gate were submitted to the Art in Public Places Committee who unanimously selected artist Tobias Rehberger because of the contemporary design of the gate, how well it integrates with the design of the pier and the park, how the signage can be seen when the gates are open and from a distance, as well as its merit as a work of optic art.      

The other respondents to the Call to Artists were Barbara Grygutis, Nick Lyle & Ries Niemi, and Carolina Sardi. Click on each artist's name to view their responses to the Call to Artists.