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Written by Abel S.
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Page 1 of 2 Little I really know about the city’s public transportation system, about how it all works, or where it goes, or from where to where. However, Miami has it all: The Metrorail, the Metromover, bus-lines traces. It all make sense, or maybe it doesn’t - thinking on how many people I know that actually make use of public transportation in Miami. Except for my landlord, that doesn’t have a car and has been forbidden to drive by his doctor, I cannot think on anybody else.
I came across the Miami Metrorail, after being commissioned to write about the art that is located at its several stations. How obvious can I get? Anyways, I recurred to modern magic and Googled for information on the Metrorail, on how it works, where it goes, and from where to where. Here is what I found:
“The Miami Metrorail operates on 22.4 miles of elevated track with 22 stations from Dadeland South to Palmetto. The service hours are 24 hours, with train headways every 6 minutes during rush hour, every 15 minutes during midday hours, and every 30 minutes after 8:00 p.m. on weekdays. Weekend service runs every 20 minutes. Free transfer is offered to the MetroMover by using a special exit at the Government Center and Brickell stations. Change / token machines are available at all stations since no station agents exist.”
Awesome. So there it is, all I need is to get on. Of course I could have visited every station by car, but that wouldn’t be as much of a “new experience” as riding the Metrorail promised to be. Soon after gathering all the information I needed, I was ready for my move. Got a map with several marks and notes about the artworks - the usual who and what is where -, picked up my blackberry and sun glasses - I don’t carry and Ipod so I guess I was “Ipod cliché” free - and there I was, enjoying a Saturday morning “drive” towards the most southern Metrorail station: Dadeland Station. No plans but to head northbound on the train and eventually get off and on to check out the artworks at the stations. Am I exited? I don’t know... There is no need to get silly. I just need to see the art and write the story due. It’s no difficult task I thought, after arriving at the first station.
Two gigantic metal pseudo vehicles located outside the station building welcomed me. The work consists of two “modern” neo-bicycles representing a sort of commuting from the suburbs to the urban areas. Created in 1984 by George Greenamyer as part of the Miami Dade Department of Cultural Affairs Art in Public Places program, 16 Smokes was inspired by the rapid growth that Miami was experiencing at the time. It uses references of the pre-industrial era, when smoking machinery and complicated combinations of dented wheels symbolized progress and development. Natural from Cleveland, Ohio, Greennamyer considers himself a “public sculptor” who finds inspiration in structural engineering. Many of his sculptures and kinetic works can be seen at many other cities’ public spaces like New York, St. Louis or New Orleans.
So far so good. I’m at the station waiting for a train. In Miami. Ok. Few people around doing the same I guess. I try to see if I’m the only one that is new to the experience and it seems to be so. There is a young couple having an animated conversation, a proud old lady wearing makeup and everything, plus two homeless guys that don’t look quite alright, but I’m worry-free. It’s a beautiful morning. The train arrived on time, we all got in, while a young man came in across the sliding door at the last minute, just to rapidly take a seat near a window and stuck his ears with tiny white earphones... and off we go. I’m definitely the only one new to this.
I know from my list that there are works at University Station, such the light installation named Making Purple, by disappeared Cuban-American artist Fernando Garcia but it was already covered by MAG some time ago, so I decided to pass it and make my first stop at Douglas Road Station to see Leaning Arches created by Athena Tacha also in 1984.
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