C7V - Approve $300k Public Art Commission

Resolutions - C7 V

COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

RECOMMENDATION

Adopt the Resolution.

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

The 19.4-acre former Par 3 Golf Course at 2795 Prairie Ave is currently being developed into Bayshore Park (“The Park”), a passive Park for Miami Beach residents to enjoy. The new Park, which was partially funded by the 2018 voter-approved General Obligation Bond, will include environmental remediation, a central lake with boardwalks, a pavilion, six courts marked for both tennis and pickleball, restrooms, children's playground, dog park, jogging trail and pathways, a fitness cluster, butterfly garden, linear water feature, parking lot, walkway lighting and security camera systems. In addition to forementioned amenities, the Park will include a unique commissioned work of art as part of the Art in Public Places Program collection.

The Art in Public Places (AiPP) program is a city board responsible for the commission and purchase of artwork by contemporary artists in all media. The program is funded from 2% of hard costs for city projects and joint private/public projects. Funds from construction projects may be aggregated into the AiPP Fund and allocated for artwork at public sites and for collection maintenance. The fund is administered by a City Commission-appointed citizen’s board of seven members, the AiPP Committee. The funding for the Bayshore Park commissioned work of art, as determined by the AiPP Committee, is $300,000.

The scope of work for the selected artist includes providing, delivering and installing a custom art piece for Bayshore Park. This includes design therein with applicable hardware. The selected proposal was required to provide a maintenance plan for the care of artwork. The pre-determined potential locations for placement of the artwork included the Park’s Entry Plaza and Island. The project was originally set for completion in Spring 2025 and has since been shifted to Winter 2025.

ANALYSIS

On July 5, 2024, The City of Miami Beach, through its Cultural Affairs Division, requested qualifications from professional artists and/or artist teams to create integrated artwork(s) for Bayshore Park via CTA- 2024-001. The application closed on September 5, 2024, and received sixty-seven (67) submissions, with ten (10) applications being shortlisted by Tourism & Culture Staff.

At the September 17, 2024, AiPP Committee meeting, the ten (10) shortlisted artists presentations were shared with the AiPP committee, which included artist statements, CV and previous work samples. From this shortlist, six (6) artists were selected to develop a full proposal and present it to the AiPP Committee. The selected artists were encouraged to design site specific artworks that would provide visitors with an outstanding visual experience while creating a unique identity for the park and the immediate neighborhood.

At the January 28, 2025, AiPP Committee meeting, the six (6) shortlisted artists presented their work and addressed questions from the AiPP Committee. The AiPP Committee did not reach quorum at the January meeting and the review and approval of the Bayshore Park proposals was postponed until the February meeting.

At the February 18, 2025, AiPP Committee meeting, as approved via LTC # 086-2025 (attached), the full $300,000 public art project at Bayshore Park was allocated for a singular sculptural element in the park’s Entry Plaza. Artists Richard Hudson, Michele Oka Doner, and R&R Studios were invited to share a final proposal for the AiPP Committee.

At the April 15, 2025, AiPP Committee meeting, the three (3) finalist artists in the Bayshore Park public art commission (Richard Hudson, R&R Studios and Michele Oka Doner) presented their second and final proposals to the Art in Public Places (AiPP) Committee. As approved via LTC#164-2025 (attached), the AiPP Committee deferred the final selection of the Bayshore Park public art commission to the May 20, 2025, AiPP meeting date to allow all members to be in attendance and obtain a majority vote from the appointed members.

At the May 20, 2025, AiPP Committee meeting, the "Bird House," proposal by artist Michele Oka Doner was recommended as the selected public work of art for the Bayshore Park project via LTC #217-2025 (attached).

Michele Oka Doner’s “Bird House” is inspired by the artist’s childhood and the natural elements that characterize the Park and City. A Miami Beach native, Doner grew up across the street from the Park, and always marveled at the wildlife that made their homes among its foliage. “Bird House” recalls an abandoned birdhouse which the artist discovered in a Coconut Palm Tree. Her proposed sculpture, which will stand 20 feet high and six (6) feet in diameter, embodies the magic which exists in the natural world. Composed of shining mica, “Bird House” will be a radiant icon, combining the familiar with the mysterious, welcoming visitors of all ages to appreciate the beauty (both natural and artist-made) that makes the City of Miami Beach so special.

Michele Oka Doner is an artist whose work is fueled by a lifelong study and appreciation of the natural world, from which she derives her formal vocabulary. Her artistic production includes sculpture, drawing, public art, functional objects, video, artist books, and costume and set design. She has created numerous permanent art installations throughout the world, including “Radiant Site” at the Herald Square MTA station in New York, “A Walk on the Beach” at Miami International Airport, and “Velocity of Light”, the entrance to the new Astronomy Museum in Shanghai. Her work is found in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum and Whitney, NY, Art Institute of Chicago, Detroit Institute of Arts, The Louvre, Victoria and Albert, London, and Michigan, Oxford, Yale and Harvard University Art Museums, among others. She has received many awards, including those given by the UN Society of Writers and Artists, Pratt Institute, New York State Council of the Arts and the Knight Foundation. She was first Artist in Residence at the New York Botanical Garden and received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Michigan, where she earned her undergraduate and MFA degrees. Born in Miami Beach, Michele Oka Doner, is

currently working on “Talisman,” in conjunction with the City of New York, on an installation for Park Avenue, opening March 2026.

On June 23, 2025, the City launched the press release announcing the award “Bird House” as the winning proposal for the Bayshore Park Public Art Commission. (Attached).

Pursuant to City Code Article VII., Sec. 82-612 (f) of City of Miami Beach’s Ordinance, selection of artists, sculptors, craftsmen and professional advisory committee’s review of designs and choice and acceptance of works of art shall be made by the Art in Public Places Committee and must have approval of the City Commission.

If approved by the City Commission at the July 23, 2025, meeting, the City will promptly finalize the contract with Michele Oka Doner for project completion set to take place Winter 2025.

FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT

Funding for the Art in Public Places Project in Bayshore Park in the amount of $300,000 is available in the current FY 2025 Art in Public Places fund.

Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate? (FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)

If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE) was published on: See BIE at: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

AiPP Fund 147-0380-069370-25-410-556-00-00-00-62031

CONCLUSION

The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve the selection of Michele Oka Doner’s “Bird House” public artwork, as recommended by the Art in Public Places Committee and further authorize the City Manager to execute a professional service agreement of a not-to-exceed amount of $300,000 for the design, fabrication and installation of the work of art.

Applicable Area

South Beach

No

Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No

If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s):

Department

Tourism and Culture

Sponsor(s)

Co-sponsor(s)

Condensed Title

Approve AiPP Selection and Agreement Artist Michele Oka Doner for Bayshore Park. TC

Previous Action (For City Clerk Use Only)