Client: MIAMI DADE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Location: Miami, FL, United States
Completion date: 2008
Artwork budget: $6,000,000
Project Team
Artist
Barbara Neijna
Industry Resource
Erica Behrens
Franz Mayer of Munich
Architect
Carlos Zapata Studio
Overview
"FOREVERGLADES" IS A MONUMENTAL WORK OF ART, TEN YEARS IN PRODUCTION. THE INSTALLATION TOTALLY COVERS THE INTERIOR WALLS OF CONCOURSE J WITH CAST STONE PANELS SHOWING BAS RELIEF OF FLORIDA FLORA. THE FLOORS ARE DOMINATED WITH TEXT ALLOWING THE VIEWERS TO READ A BOOK OF MARJORIE STONEMAN DOUGLAS, "RIVER OF GRASS". THE GLASS CURTAIN WALL IN THE INTERIOR IS ILLUMINATED WITH ART GLASS BRINGING BRILLIANT COLOR TO THE CAVERNOUS SPACE. THIS PROJECT WAS ABOUT CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE NO OTHER. IT IS THE VISUALIZATION OF THE ESSENCE OF SOUTH FLORIDA.
Goals
THERE IS NO BEGINNING OR END TO THE INTEGRATION OF THE ART WITHIN THE ARCHITECTURE. IT IS A HOMOGENOUS WHOLE. MY INTENTION WAS THAT THE ENTIRE SPACE BE RELEVANT AND EXPERIENCED.
Process
THIS COLLABORATION INVOLVED CLOSE AND CONTINUOUS INVOLVEMENT FROM THE OUTSET OF THE SEMINAL DRAWINGS OF THE AIRPORT. LIGHTING, STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATIONS, TECHNICAL ISSUES, MAINTENANCE, AND ALL WORKMEN FROM ALL TRADES WORKED AS A TEAM.