Osvaldo N. Soto Miami Dade County Justice Center
Homage to Cielito Lindo by south Florida-based artist Laura Tanner (b. 1987, Atlanta, GA) responds to the design features, architecture, and historical narratives of the 1928 Miami-Dade County Courthouse designed by architect A. Ten Eyck Brown and widely known as “Cielito Lindo” - beautiful sky. Using a collage-like methodology and research practice to tell a visual story, the artist worked alongside courthouse judges, staff and historians to highlight key archival materials related to the facility since the 1920’s. Objects and motifs discovered during her site visits and gathering of oral histories were incorporated into the composition. Iconic for its Neoclassical design, upon completion, the building was the tallest in the city of Miami as well as the state of Florida. The resulting installation pays homage to this important landmark, but also remembers it as a site that offered access and justice for all for over a century, through times of great change, segregation, and the arrival of new communities. Drawing inspiration from the architectural features within the 1928 building, Tanner created an original wallpaper that acts as a backdrop for the composition. Collaged within it are the embossed cement ceiling designs and the custom Dade County insignia that was pressed into brass doorknobs. An additional layer includes six screen prints reflect original artifacts from the building, including faucet handles, temperature gauges, light bulbs, and security keys that were utilized by many generations. The colors within the work are inspired by the art-deco style that was popular when the building was first constructed.