Watch CBS News

Art Creates A Splash At Miami Gardens Rec Complex

MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) – Above the pool at the Betty T. Ferguson Complex, pool noodles in shades of yellow, blue and green hang from the ceiling and create a piece of art fit for the water.

The pool noodles art sculpture is part of Miami-Dade County's Art in Public Places Program, a public art initiative that aims to bring art to the community.

Xavier Cortada is the artist behind the "Splash" public art project.

"I thought to myself, how cool would it be to create a sculpture using pool noodles for a pool," Cortada said. "I thought why not make a piece about the sound generated by a splash when you go down a slide?"

Cortada has been creating art using nature his entire career.

"All my art work is really about engaging people having them think about their relationships with each other and the natural world," he said.

He's been on top of the world for his work; he created art installations at the earth's north and south poles to generate awareness about global climate change.

"The polar work is an invitation for people to understand that we have the responsibility to act to address global climate change environmentally," he said.

Cortada's art aims to bring more than just aesthetic beauty to the community.

"The more people understand that they can act locally and have a global affect, I think the better we are protected as a society," he said.

Cortada's mission is to bring awareness and beauty to South Florida.

"I think it's important for us to have that understanding, awareness, that there's a relationship to everything and if you come back to this pool, I'm trying to help you understand there is physics in this pool," Cortada said.

You can see some of Xavier's other pieces at the Patricia and Philip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University. You can also see more of his work at www.cortada.com.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.