Miami artist Jose Bedia was commissioned by the Miami Dade Art in Public Places Trust to design two monumental art pieces at the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts. The Terrazzo floor murals are the centerpiece of both the Dolores and Sanford Ziff Ballet Opera House and the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall lobbies. The design of the floors depict outstretched hands, serving as a metaphor for applause and seemingly welcoming patrons as they enter the center, urging the patrons into the performance spaces. Alternatively reaching across the center plaza in a unifying gesture, the hands visually unite the two buildings and create a central, identifiable symbol which will serve as an icon for the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts.
The Project entrails approximately 22,000 square feet of Terrazzo floors over 10,000 lineal feet of brass and zinc divider strip in addition to 440 lineal feet Precast Epoxy Terrazzo stairs and 2200 lineal feet of Precast Epoxy Base on the inside of the center. Three different Epoxy Terrazzo mix designs were implemented into the final design using exotic chips with multiple colors of plastic chips, silver coated glass and mother of pearl. The plaza between the Delores and Sanford Ziff Ballet Opera House and the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall tie the two buildings together with the use of 2700 lineal feet of Precast Rustic Terrazzo stair treads and risers with abrasive strips.
Terrazzo floors were a natural choice for the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts due to the durability in the high foot traffic areas, longevity and low cost to maintain the floors while serving as a media the Artist was excited to work within such a large application with bold, vibrant epoxy colors. Throughout the installation of the various forms, faces, birds, hands and fish, the artist provided input as to orientation, shape and final look of the brass and zinc strip designs prior to pouring of the Terrazzo. The strip designs were prefabricated in Minnesota, disassembled and reassembled. The strip designs were prefabricated by using a CAD drawing to get the strip design as close as possible to the Artists desired finished vision.
Great care and consideration was given to insure all parties involved knew the importance of a quality installation and adherence to the idea of a beautiful, functional piece of Terrazzo artwork that the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts will continue to enjoy far into the future.
