Fort Lauderdale’s giant sculpture is truly a visual treat for visitors
FLORIDA: An instant Instagram star with a global pedigree was born along the New River on Friday — so is downtown Fort Lauderdale cool yet? The area took another step in that direction over the summer when Society Las Olas opened on the river under the umbrella of Property Markets Group ( PMG), a developer of “social apartment communities” in New York and Chicago. A hip energy — sophisticated, but not exclusively youthful — is intrinsic to the Society brand, transmitted through cultural programming, modern design and oten dramatic visual cues. At a PMG apartment project on Chicago’s Logan Square, they hoisted a retired Chicago Transit Authority train car onto a second-floor deck to create a rooftop bar.
On Friday morning, PMG made a statement at Society Las Olas by unveiling a 14-ton, 27foot sculpture titled “Thrive,” by South African artist Daniel Popper, best known for towering works at international music festivals and the beaches of Tulum, Mexico. Popper’s work also will be showcased at PMG’S Society Wynwood, which breaks ground next year. “Thrive” is a seraphic female figure with a passageway laced in greenery under the front portico of Society Las Olas, near the brick-lined Riverwalk. Facing entertainment hot spot the Wharf Fort Lauderdale, the sculpture is destined to become a must-see on any Instagram trail through downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Popper says “Thrive” is a direct descendant of his most iconic permanent work, the massive female figure titled “Ven a La Luz” ( Come into the Light), on the beach in Tulum. “It’s the same idea. That one is made out of wood. This is just a more urban version,” Popper said ater the unveiling. “Thrive” is made from glass-fibrereinforced concrete, and its rugged contours pierced by a deep vertical crevasse, offer an unintended benefit for some, and a problem for others.
“It is very climbable. It’s very strong. The structure will support you, but I don’t recommend it,” Popper said. If “Thrive” gives off a Burning Man vibe not typically associated with downtown Fort Lauderdale, PMG managing partner Ryan Shear is fine with that. “As a culture, at PMG, we definitely have a chip on our shoulder to challenge norms, for what it’s worth,” said Shear, 37. “If you look at the building Society itself, it is not a down-the-fairway, multifamily building. There’s a lot of unconventional things we do from a business sense, a design sense.”
Shear grew up in Miami and spent his youth hanging out on South Beach, at Cocowalk and
Riverfront, the dust of which lies under Society Las Olas. He says the reputation of downtown Fort Lauderdale is changing quickly, citing the opening next door of the Wharf and Bodega Taqueria, two energetic brands associated with Miami. “[The sculpture is] not what I would call a downtown Fort Lauderdale custom piece. [But] maybe it will be. I, personally, am a huge believer in something that stops and makes people think,” Shear said.
Like Popper’s work in Tulum, the woman in “Thrive” is depicted pulling her chest open, creating a void to walk through. Popper said viewers can make their own interpretation, but he describes the figure as exposing “her inner garden.” Popper said support for research into the lung disease cystic fibrosis is an element in his work, acknowledged in a plaque next to “Thrive.”
Speaking at the base of the sculpture, Mayor Dean Trantalis called it “a symbol of who we are here in Fort Lauderdale.” “This represents women’s empowerment. It’s important to our community because we believe in the diversity of our people, whether it be gender diversity, whether it be racial diversity, orientation diversity,” he said. Shear said such symbolism also resonated at PMG. “Thematically, we tend to have female empowerment pieces. Our firm, I think, is more female than male, which is rare ... for development firms. So, in general, we’re atracted to pieces like that,” he says.
The City of Fort Lauderdale is situated on the southeast coast of Florida, in the east-central portion of Broward County, approximately 23 miles north of Miami and 42 miles south of Palm Beach. The City shares boundaries with nine other municipalities, as well as unincorporated areas of the County. Encompassing approximately 36 square miles, Fort Lauderdale is the eighth largest city in Florida and the largest of Broward County’s 31 municipalities. Fort Lauderdale is famous for its beaches, arts, culture and events. From shopping on Las Olas Boulevard, to gondola rides on the canals, to a historic riverfront. Just two miles north of Port Everglades, you can experience Fort Lauderdale’s landscaped beachfront promenade, with its signature white wave wall and brick paved path.
Once best known as a raucous and rowdy Spring Break destination, today Fort Lauderdale, Florida is friendly and diverse resort town with stretches of golden beach, chic restaurants and multi-million dollar yachts peppering the marinas and Intracoastal Canals. Brimming with swanky boutiques, art galleries and entertainment venues; the city is abuzz with creative minds and good time go-geters. The recent (and ongoing) rejuvenation has brought a major spotlight to the area, atracting flocks of tourists to this beachy, hip, sun-drenched city.
As the seat of Broward County in South Florida, Fort Lauderdale has over 60 official neighbourhoods and several others without the city’s recognition (though they still show up on local maps). Rivaled only by Miami in culinary conquests of South Florida, Fort Lauderdale covers all the bases when it comes to dining out. Ranging from al fresco spots on the waterfront, to quaint bistros, premier steakhouses and a plethora of the freshest seafood options available; the city’s 4,000-plus restaurants are sure to please any palate. Giant portions and fresh pasta are served up daily at Il Molino in addition to house specialties like seafood anelli and homemade cannoli for dessert.