A retrospective exhibit of perhaps the single greatest piece of public art to be created in Miami, by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, is opening this week at PAMM. Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Surrounded Islands, Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida, 1980-83: A Documentary Exhibition, is an exhibition of archival materials and artworks around the renowned artists’ site-specific 1983 installation, Surrounded Islands, in Miami’s Biscayne Bay, according to the Perez Art Museum Miami’s representative.
On view from October 5, 2018 through February 17, 2019, the exhibition commemorates the 35th anniversary of Surrounded Islands—an anniversary that also coincides with the founding of PAMM’s predecessor institution, Center for Fine Arts. The history of Surrounded Islands is inseparable from PAMM’s origins, and the exhibition reinforces the idea that the museum’s evolution is inextricable from the development of Miami as both a city and an artistic hub.
In their announcement of the exhibit, the Miami New Times has an account of the temporary , site-specific installation, which took over Biscayne Bay in its massive scale for two incredible weeks, and over at SouthFlorida.com , readers can check out an oral history from those who were there. Check out the photos below as well.
Christo
b. 1935, Gabrovo, Bulgaria; lives in New York
Surrounded Islands (Project for Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida), 1983
Pencil, photograph by Wolfgang Volz, enamel paint, wax crayon, charcoal, and ball point pen
14 x 11 inches Photo: Eeva-Inkeri © Christo 1983
Christo working on a preparatory collage for Surrounded Islands. New York, 1983. Photo: Wolfgang Volz
Christo
b. 1935, Gabrovo, Bulgaria; lives in New York
Surrounded Islands (Project for Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida), 1982
Pencil, fabric, pastel, charcoal, wax crayon, aerial photograph, and enamel paint
33 x 56 inches Photo: Eeva-Inkeri © Christo 1982
Christo
b. 1935, Gabrovo, Bulgaria; lives in New York
Surrounded Islands (Project for Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida), 1982
Pencil, fabric, photograph by Wolfgang Volz, pastel, charcoal, and wax crayon
14 x 22 inches Photo: Eeva-Inkeri © Christo 1982
Christo in his studio working on a preparatory drawing for Surrounded Islands. New York, 1983. Photo: Wolfgang Volz
Christo in his studio working on a preparatory drawing for Surrounded Islands. New York, 1983. Photo: Wolfgang Volz
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Christo (b. 1935, Gabrovo, Bulgaria; lives in New York), Jeanne-Claude (b. 1935, Casablanca, Morocco; d. 2009, New York)
Documentary photograph of Surrounded Islands Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida, 1980–83 Woven polypropylene fabric surrounding 11 islands, Styrofoam, steel cables, and anchoring system
6.5 million square feet of fabric overall Photo: Wolfgang Volz
© Christo 1983
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Christo (b. 1935, Gabrovo, Bulgaria; lives in New York), Jeanne-Claude (b. 1935, Casablanca, Morocco; d. 2009, New York)
Documentary photograph of Surrounded Islands Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida, 1980–83 Woven polypropylene fabric surrounding 11 islands, Styrofoam, steel cables, and anchoring system
6.5 million square feet of fabric overall Photo: Wolfgang Volz
© Christo 1983
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Christo (b. 1935, Gabrovo, Bulgaria; lives in New York), Jeanne-Claude (b. 1935, Casablanca, Morocco; d. 2009, New York)
Documentary photograph of Surrounded Islands Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida, 1980–83 Woven polypropylene fabric surrounding 11 islands, Styrofoam, steel cables, and anchoring system
6.5 million square feet of fabric overall Photo: Wolfgang Volz
© Christo 1983
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Christo (b. 1935, Gabrovo, Bulgaria; lives in New York), Jeanne-Claude (b. 1935, Casablanca, Morocco; d. 2009, New York)
Documentary photograph of Surrounded Islands Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida, 1980–83 Woven polypropylene fabric surrounding 11 islands, Styrofoam, steel cables, and anchoring system
6.5 million square feet of fabric overall Photo: Wolfgang Volz
© Christo 1983
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Christo (b. 1935, Gabrovo, Bulgaria; lives in New York), Jeanne-Claude (b. 1935, Casablanca, Morocco; d. 2009, New York)
Documentary photograph of Surrounded Islands Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida, 1980–83 Woven polypropylene fabric surrounding 11 islands, Styrofoam, steel cables, and anchoring system
6.5 million square feet of fabric overall Photo: Wolfgang Volz
© Christo 1983
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Christo (b. 1935, Gabrovo, Bulgaria; lives in New York), Jeanne-Claude (b. 1935, Casablanca, Morocco; d. 2009, New York)
Documentary photograph of Surrounded Islands Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida, 1980–83 Woven polypropylene fabric surrounding 11 islands, Styrofoam, steel cables, and anchoring system
6.5 million square feet of fabric overall Photo: Wolfgang Volz
© Christo 1983
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Christo (b. 1935, Gabrovo, Bulgaria; lives in New York), Jeanne-Claude (b. 1935, Casablanca, Morocco; d. 2009, New York)
Documentary photograph of Surrounded Islands Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida, 1980–83 Woven polypropylene fabric surrounding 11 islands, Styrofoam, steel cables, and anchoring system
6.5 million square feet of fabric overall Photo: Wolfgang Volz
© Christo 1983
Christo and Jeanne-Claude working on the Surrounded Islands project. Miami, May 1983.
Photo: Wolfgang Volz
