This is a 18 foot high public art piece located in Central Broward Regional Park in front of the…read moreLauderdale Library and Performing Arts Center. It was created by artist Alice Aycock and it was installed in 2008 at a cost of $322,000. Aycock also has sculptures displayed at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Philadelphia International Airport, and JFK International Airport in New York. Of this piece Aycock said "I very much wanted people passing by to wonder about it, to say, 'What is that? I haven't seen anything quite like that." The sculpture is made of metal, steel, concrete and acrylic. It sits slightly above a 30' x 21' elliptical-shaped pool. The center of the sculpture is an acrylic sphere. 20 foot metal ribbons spiral around it before dipping below the surface of the water. Based on its appearance some people took to calling it "The Slinky.'' I love finding these large public art pieces in Broward, the county I live in. Broward has a robust art program and you can find may pieces all over the county. The art program is overseen by the Cultural Division which offers grant programs to eligible artists, non-profit organizations, and cities to promote the development of arts and culture in Broward County. At the time this art piece was created, the county had already spent millions on 230 art pieces. This piece is especially interesting to me because of the size and the water element. Looking at it, I think of the earth or another planet in the solar system. According to Broward's Public Art and Design website "This artwork is designed to generate a realm of wonder and curiosity; to be theatrical, poetic, delightful and magical. Integrating, nature, science, art and technology, its normal composition refers to the dynamic and tumultuous weather patterns in South Florida and the gravitational forces present on the earth and throughout the solar system, illustrating the expanding universe and underwater marine life." It is always fun to discover new to me public art pieces. If you are in the area come check it out.

Guardian Towers is a large metal installation purchased by a private developer through the Coral…read moreSprings Public Art Program. You can find The colorful Guardian Towers on Wiles Road in front of Whispering Woods professional center. Since their first public art project, the covered bridge in 1963, Coral Springs has become one of the leading public art cities in south Florida. The art is paid for with fees for development and redevelopment in the city. Fees are collected from permits during building construction and renovations in the city. Guardian Towers was created by Columbian artist Gustavo Vejarano who said "Art is an instrument of knowledge, which not solely allows us to explore the inner and outer worlds and make them obvious, but also gives coherence to our vision." In addition to large scale installations like this piece, he also does paintings. This art installation is a triptych created in 2004 that represents elements of the universe, moon, sun. and fire. You may pass public art works every day and not even notice them. They are woven into the urban landscape and pop up in the most unexpected places. I will be running a mundane errand in the city and then suddenly spot one of these art pieces that always makes me stop and look. The large scale and bright colors of this piece makes Guardian Towers a stand out. There are even some inviting benches if you want to sit and contemplate the work. I really love the Coral Springs Public Art Program which seeks to not have art just be something you visit in a museum but is instead incorporated into our every day lives.

Let LOVE Guide Your Way is a kinetic public art piece by artist Lloyd Goradesky. You can find the…read morebright red sculpture in Arts Park across from city hall. Let LOVE Guide Your Way is a weathervane that stands 16 feet high and weighs 5,000 pounds. Artist Lloyd Goradesky chose a weathervane for this art piece because it is a device used to measure the direction of the wind. It is also a metaphor to describe people who change their views frequently. When you are faced with a dilemma in a chaotic world, let love guide your way. Let LOVE Guide Your Way was first displayed at the 2019 and 2021 International Kinetic Art Exhibit and Symposium. I love the movement of this piece and how it celebrates kindness and the message of universal love. Mr. Goradesky is currently working on even a larger weathervane for the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel to celebrate the friendship between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the American Nation.

Five Points has been a Wilton Manors landmark since 1925 when it was laid out by Edward J. "Ned"…read moreWillingham. It served as the gateway to his subdivision of Wilton Manors. The five pointed intersection is unusual because three major streets, Wilton Drive, Northeast 26th Street and Dixie Highway converge from five directions. It is believed to be the only such road configuration in the county. Back in the 1920's, Wilton Boulevard was framed by four Romanesque towers designed by noted architect Frank Abreu. Prospective lot buyers could climb to the top of the highest tower which was 38 feet so they could pick out their land. Sadly the large tower was torn down in 1957 to make way for an A&W root beer stand. From the 1950's to the late 1970's people would drink root beer at the drive-in and they bought vegetables from a grain and feed store. Trains loaded with produce would roar past Five Points. The smaller pair of towers located between NE 26th St and Wilton Dr. were torn down in 1964. The last little tower was taken down shortly after. Today thousands of cars pass through Five Points everyday on their way north to Oakland Park, East to Federal Hwy, South to Middle River Terrace, and west to Wilton Manors. At the perimeter of Five Points sits a number of businesses including a Publix built in 2001. Any effort to fix Five Points by the Florida Department of Transportation has been met with resistance by local residents and businesses so if you do plan to drive through prepare to hear a lot of honking by frustrated motorists trying to navigate the road. Locals wouldn't have it any other way.

Five Points is a matter of "Local Flavor" rather than an actual business and somewhat of a rarity…read morein that it is made up of the five point highway intersection of NE 26th Street, North Dixie Highway and Wilton Drive, and as such a local location landmark and reference point. Local location directions are often given by stating distances from Five Points, such as "four blocks south on Wilton Drive from Five Points," "I'm one mile from Five Points," etc. Besides being a rare 5 point intersection it's also somewhat of an oddity in that, if you'll notice, the traffic lights change in a counterclockwise as opposed to the usual clockwise sequence of rotation. Every local knows this location and it is the location where all the parades or street festivals of Wilton Manors either begin or end.

On February 3, 2023, the City of Deerfield Beach dedicated this unique public kinetic art piece in…read morePastor Willie James Ford, Sr. Linear Park. It is the first art installation that I have come across that is not only art but is also functional fitness equipment. The fitness court was created by National Campaign Fitness Court, a nationwide consulting organization that partners with cities and schools to create fitness hubs to improve the well being of the community. This piece is a part of the NCF's art and culture series which was created in 2020. NFC trademarked this seven station fitness court in 2012. It is an open air wellness center and is adaptable to all fitness levels. Your own body weight is used to give you an optimal workout. On the side of the court is an app you can download that will help you use the court properly. The app takes you to videos of workouts you can do to strengthen every part of your body. The beginner workout is seven stations where you do exercise for 45 seconds and then rest for 15 seconds before moving on. it is like having a personal trainer in your phone. I found the videos to be clear and helpful. On the outside of the court is art work by world-renown 20th century modern artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. The piece is titled Boy and a Dog in a Johnnypump and it was created in 1982. The piece sold for over a 100 million dollars in 2020. Basquiat created art in the 70 and 80's as part of the Neo-expressionism movement. A common theme of his art was the portrayal of historically prominent black figures. He was active in the art world until his death of a heroin overdose at the age of 27 in 1988. I am always looking for new ways to exercise so I don't get bored. This fitness court definitely peeked my interest. I love how it is art but also a place to work out. The only thing I was disappointed in is that there isn't any legal parking here. It seems to be mainly for the people who live nearby. I hope that my town gets one of these cool fitness courts soon.

Worthy of a stop, if you pass by. I was in the area and was surprised to pass it. I therefore…read morepulled over as being English I miss historical buildings, especially as Miami is so modern. You can find this historic fountain, which is called Fulford-By-The-Sea Monument in North Miami Beach, Florida. It was built in 1925 as part of the development project by the Fulford-by-the-Sea Company. The fountain was one of the largest built in South Florida in the 1920s. There were intended to be 4 other similar fountains at other access points to the development. However, the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 and the end of the Florida land boom prevented their construction. The fountain is a Dade Historical Site and its image is part of the North Miami Beach city logo. On November 29, 2010, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Fulford by the Sea Entrance.

The historic Fulford-by-the-Sea fountain is located in North Miami Beach. It was built in 1925 by…read moreMerle C. Tebbetts and Edgar C. Linn of the Florida Cities Finance Company during Florida's land boom years when ornate Mediterranean Revival and Neoclassical Revival architecture like you see in this fountain were the fashion. At 32 feet it is one of the tallest fountains in South Florida and was built of cast stone. It was placed at the main entrance to the development. The plan had been to create four fountains and put them at the other entrances to the Fulford-by-the-Sea development which began selling lots in 1922. The Great Miami Hurricane in 1926 followed by the Great Depression put an end to the fortunes of Florida and the other fountains were never built. Features of the fountain include four triumphal arches on a circular base that contains a shallow pool. My favorite part of the fountain are the four unicorn busts around the mosaic tile dome. I never would have thought that I could find a unicorn let alone four of them in Miami. The fountain it still in operation today and pretty much in its original condition. It was designated a Dade Historical Site in 1983 and it is featured on the North Miami Beach city logo. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 29, 2010. In 2017. Florida marker F-952, detailing the history of the fountain was placed next to it by the City of North Miami Beach and the Florida Department of State. In 2016 the fountain received a 5 month restoration by RLA Conservation of Art + Architecture that cost $100,000. It was paid for by state funding and donations to the city and the city had a dedication ceremony when it was completed. I love when I find a piece of architecture from the 1920's in Florida. Not a lot of it was preserved and unlike in Coral Gables, there is very little left in North Miami. It was a real treat stumbling on this exquisite fountain. It is worth a stop and a picture if you are in the area.

While searching on Yelp for vintage shops in Oakland Park, this Art Park popped up and almost…read morepassed by the small cement sign on the corner of Andrews Ave next to the Roselli Park Plaza. It was strange, since there was only one art exhibit in the grass visible only from the side roadway. A tower of multi colored hand painted squares depicting red ribbons and alot of awkward unexplainable designs. At the bottom of the exhibit was a placard advising the art was dedicated by the World Aids Museum and Educational Center called Project H.O.P.E. Not something I would recommend driving out of your way to experience.

I stumbled on this interesting little park on the way home from picking up my Yelp awards and it…read moreturns out it has quite a bit of history. The entire block that this park sits on was once owned by Lucius Kinsey. He became one of the first settlers to the area when he moved to what would become Oakland Park in 1914 with his wife Nora. Oakland park became a city in 1929 and Mr. Kinsey served on the first city council. Mr. Kinsey eventually gave the part of his property that is Art Park to Leroy and Iris Kinsey Chadwick. They built a home where they lived for the next 50 years. Leroy, or Roy as he was known was also a city councilman and he owned a construction company that built many of the homes in Oakland Park. The couples daughter Darleen was born at home on January 6, 1926 and was listed as the first baby born in the town of Floranada, the first name of Oakland Park. When Darlene grew up she became the City Clerk for 25 years. Art Park opened in November of 2013. It is open from dawn to dusk. The park is ADA accessible with sidewalks, a seating wall, open space for events, and sculptures. There are large red abstract sculptures surrounding an open space, an art wall, and a piece dedicated to the AIDS epidemic. There is free street parking. The park is small but I love history and art so I was delighted to find it. Well done Oakland Park for marking your history and bringing culture to the community.

Prismatica is a free new art installation located along in Plaza Real in Mizner Park in Boca Raton…read more The art installation is 25 six-foot pivoting holographic prisms. Prisms have flat, polished surfaces that are designed to refract light. At least one surface must be angled to be considered a prism. I think of prisms as being glass but they can be made from any material that is transparent to the wavelengths for which they are designed. The panels of these prisms seem to be made out of some kind of plastic which reflect various rainbow colored lights that change color depending on the angle you view them. The installation is the creation of RAW Design, a Toronto-based architectural firm who had 30 architects and designers from the fields of applied science, technology, art and architecture come together to create Prismatica.. The installation is sponsored by Quartier des Spectacles Partnership of Montreal. After Boca Raton Prismatica will continue to tour the United States. The prisms are set up on the sidewalk in front of the shops. The interactive part of the art is you can spin them to see the colors change. You can also look through them to see the street change color. I tried to take a few pictures shooting through the prisms. At night the prisms light up making even more colors. I used to use a prism as a kid to make rainbows around my bedroom. Playing with these large prisms brought back those childhood feelings of wonder and discovery. I love what is happening in Mizer Park. First we get the world famous Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibit at the Boca Raton Museum of Art and now that they have packed up these fun and colorful prisms made their debut on March 3rd in time for spring. If you want to see and play with the prisms though you will have to hurry. There are only here for one month and will be departing on April 3.