The Marlins next season at their new ballpark “will have a celebration sculpture that looks like a psychedelic roulette wheel of jumping marlins, diving seagulls and the wild colors have some fans in a tizzy,” according to Lomi Kriel of the MIAMI HERALD. The 74-foot sculpture in center field “is under construction now” and will be Miami-Dade County’s “largest public sculpture.” The $2.5M creation will “come alive anytime a player hits a home run.” An animated artist rendering “had the Internet abuzz Friday after it emerged on a local web site.” Some people “were having fun Friday -- but a few of the reviews flooding in over the web were not exactly flattering.” By late Friday, 94% of respondents of 118 voters in a poll conducted by WPLG-ABC called the sculpture “tacky,” compared to only 6% calling it “tasteful.” The video initially was posted on the Miami-Dade County’s Facebook page and fan Drew Housman wrote, “This HAS to be a joke.” Fan Alex Padron wrote, “We will be the laughing stock if this goes up.” County officials “defended the work, saying the magnificence of the final piece can’t be fully conveyed in an artist rendering” (MIAMI HERALD, 10/8). In Miami, Manny Navarro noted the new mechanized sculpture made its debut yesterday and there “really are no words to describe it.” The piece is “the work of renowned multimedia pop artist Red Grooms” (MIAMIHERALD.com, 10/10). Also in Miami, Greg Cote wrote the fans “hate it,” but the good news is they “don’t hate it quite as much as they hate the team’s new logo” (MIAMI HERALD, 10/9).
DON'T RUSH TO JUDGMENT: In West Palm Beach, Joe Capozzi noted sources “caution against anyone rushing to judgment.” Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places Project Manager Patricia Romeu said, “It will be pretty neat and it’s going to be smack in the middle of the TV (views).” The sculpture is “one of four art projects at the new Marlins ballpark,” and all “will be done by January” (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 10/7). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde wrote, “You thought the new Marlins logo was bad?" The sculpture "looks like a mix of a bad carnival ride and a Calle Ocho sculpture on steroids” (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 10/7). Meanwhile, in Ft. Lauderdale, Craig Davis noted the reported new Marlins’ logo “consisting of a bold M accented by an abstract marlin” was clearly visible in a photo of the new stadium’s seats. The end piece of the seat rows “that can be seen has a cover over the area bearing the logo” (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 10/8).
