Created in 2020 this is a collaborative effort between Hive Public Space and muralist Navid Rahman. It is a 2-part installation. The first part, titled Barreled, is constructed out of a steel tubes and aqua colored acrylic panels that represent the ocean's oscillating balance of power and fragility.
Each arch goes from a wall that is connected to a ceiling and the then continues to and culminates with a seating component. They are alternately placed in the space. Visitors are encouraged to take a seat on this interactive piece.
The second piece, which is a mural painted by Rahman, serves as a background of sorts and is titled "Broken Current." The mural is an abstract piece that depicts a colorful wave against a teal background. It is intended to illustrate powerful rip and tidal currents created by ocean waves.
This project has an inspiring background. It was conceived as a way to activate an underutilized space that was attracting negative behavior. It was funded by the contributions of local business owners. The original plan did not include the mural. However, they eventually saw it as a way to add even more beauty and I am glad that they did. It looks nice and is very appealing to the eyes.
Bothe pieces are wonderful alone and demands your attention. I am glad that I was able to check it out. I recommend swinging by and taking a look if you can.
If you want to get out and take a closer look, there is metered street parking and a few commercial lots and garages within walking distance that you can park at to visit here. The meters cost about $2/ hour and the lots vary in price depending on what is going on and the season. I parked in a dirt lot in front of the Feels mural, located across the street, and I was fine. Of course it was a slow weekday though.
Anyway, as with most attractions that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. Even though this is a little different because it has some seating that you can use to sit on and enjoy. I was there less than 15 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other boardwalk attractions, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. I would start with the nearby Feels Mural, Virginia Walk of Fame and the Norwegian Lady Memorial. read more