Monumental Art Projects in South Florida:
Navigating the Intersection of Art, Engineering, and Public Policy
The growth of South Florida’s art market has fueled a remarkable increase in monumental art projects. While the creation of these large-scale works is an artistic endeavor, their successful realization requires a complex and specialized process involving fabrication, transportation, and installation. Navigating this process successfully requires addressing the diverse requirements of all stakeholders involved, including:
- Artists: Ensuring the technical execution aligns with their creative vision.
- Fabricators: Communicating specifications to produce a structurally sound piece.
- Collectors and Public Institutions: Managing logistics and budget for installation.
- Design and Engineering Professionals: Coordinating with architects and structural engineers for integration with the site.
- Governmental Agencies: Securing necessary permits and approvals.
- The Public: Ensuring the art is installed safely and is accessible for viewing.
My expertise, developed from creating, fabricating, and installing my own sculptures, has evolved into a consulting activity. Through this experience, I have become proficient in connecting the creative vision of artists with the technical and regulatory requirements of a project. I specialize in the most challenging aspects of the process: bridging the gap between artistic intent and the demands of government and design professionals.
From a project’s inception, I collaborate with the artist or fabricator. This includes developing architectural plans that detail the structural requirements, transportation logistics, and site attachment methods for review by structural engineers and local permitting authorities. This hands-on approach ensures the structural integrity of the final installation and secures the necessary governmental approvals.
This paper will illustrate these concepts through successful case studies. The examples begin with my own sculptural work and expand to include collaborations with other artists, demonstrating a comprehensive and effective approach to monumental art project management.
In recent years I have developed a professional working relationship with R.U.N Art Foundry in Miami, working directly with the foundry owner, artist Uldis Lopez, and his team in the different aspects of his projects, here are some examples of these collaborations:
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The Tree of Life by Beatriz Gerenstein
Aventura Florida, 2023-2024. Bronze. 16 FT High by 9 FT wide by 9 FT long.
Mars by Julio Larraz
City of Coral Gables, Art in Public Places, 2024-2025. Painted Bronze. 15 FT High by 11 FT long, by 4 FT Wide
La Nena by Idan Zareski
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2025-2026. Bronze. 18 FT High by 12 FT Long by 10 Wide.
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Children Fountain Restoration
Miami, FL. Bronze. Live size Children. 2023-2024.
In 2023, I led the restoration of seven life-size bronze sculptures for the children’s fountain at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. The pieces, depicting children playing, were in a state of advanced disrepair due to a prolonged lack of maintenance, exhibiting significant oxidation and other forms of deterioration. Given the delicate nature of the bronze artwork, I invited R.U.N. Art Foundry as a partner to assist me with the restoration process.
The scope of work included:
- Picking up the sculptures and transport them to the studio where the job took place
- Cutting the oxidised support pins attached to the feet of the sculptures
- Careful cleaning of the corroded metal surfaces.
- Welding new stainless steel pins to replace the failing attachments and securely anchor the sculptures.
- Repairing various holes and other structural damages.
- Applying new bronze patinas and protective sealers to the finished surfaces.
- transporting them back to the Children’s Hospital
- Installing the sculptures at their new fountain
The restoration took approximately six months, culminating in the installation of the revitalized sculptures, significantly enhancing the hospital environment.
Mount Sinai Medical Center, Monumental Sculpture Restoration
Miami Beach, Florida. 2017. Stainless Steel, 20 FT by 3 FT
In 2017, I did the restoration of two large-scale sculptures at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. Both pieces were in significant disrepair due to long-term neglect.
The first project was the on-site restoration of a monumental stainless steel sculpture. The most critical repair involved replacing the severely corroded original mild steel attachment. A new, robust stainless steel component was designed, fabricated, and expertly welded to the sculpture to ensure its long-term stability. Following the structural repair, the piece was meticulously cleaned and polished to restore its original luster.
This two-month restoration project culminated in the sculpture’s installation on a new concrete and marble base within a redesigned garden area, creating a setting that beautifully complements the revitalized artwork.
Key Restoration Tasks:
- Cut and removed the oxidized mild steel attachment plate.
- Designed, fabricated, and welded a new stainless steel attachment plate.
- Cleaned and polished the entire sculpture.
- Installed the sculpture on its new concrete and marble base.
Mount Sinai Medical Center, Monumental Sculpture Restoration
Miami Beach, Florida. 2017. Bronze sculpture 16 FT high by 6 FT Wide
The second phase of the Mount Sinai Medical Center restoration project involved a 20-foot-high bronze sculpture, originally created by an artist in 1983. Due to years of neglect, the piece was in very poor condition. The restoration was completed at my workshop over several months and included the following steps:
- Carefully cleaning the sculpture by sanding away the old patina.
- Repairing numerous holes in the surface, likely caused by oxidation.
- Welding a new set of stainless steel securing plates to the base.
- Preparing the surface for patina and applying a cold-bronze finish.
- Transporting the sculpture back to the hospital via a tow truck.
- Installing the piece with a crane and securely fastening it to its base.
