Miami Dolphins Bring Wynwood-Style Art Into Hard Rock Stadium
When the Miami Dolphins make their home debut this Sunday, there will be at least one more thing in the newly refurbished and re-christened Hard Rock Stadium to distract you from how crappy the team is: Wynwood-style art. Team owner Stephen Ross, inspired by the murals that adorn Wynwood, commissioned.
September 23, 2016
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When the Miami Dolphins make their home debut this Sunday, there will be at least one other thing in the newly refurbished and rechristened Hard Rock Stadium to distract fans from the team’s disappointing play: Wynwood-style art. Team owner Stephen Ross, inspired by the murals that adorn the Wynwood Arts District, commissioned 18 artists, muralists, and graffiti artists to festoon his renovated stadium with murals that echo those found throughout Miami’s artsiest neighborhood.
The Dolphins held an unveiling of the art this past Thursday, showcasing work from artists such as Felipe Pantone, Dasic Fernández, Fintan Magee, and Jen Stark, as well as a special mural designed by the Portuguese artist Vhils.
Ross teamed up with Goldman Global Arts for the project after he visited Wynwood Walls. “Mr. Ross saw the art out in Wynwood and immediately wanted to bring that vision into the stadium,” Dolphins President and CEO Tom Garfinkel said during Thursday’s media event.
It’s an ambitious project — most of the designs are abstract and have nothing to do with football or sports at all. Instead, the collection is designed to embody the art and culture that is Miami. In other words, the stadium isn’t just the home of the Dolphins and Hurricanes — it’s also a place where concerts and major events will be held.
“Miami is a truly aspirational city and a leader culturally in this country and in some ways the rest of the world,” Ross said in a statement Thursday. “This stadium is a global entertainment destination that reflects Miami’s cultural significance in music, sports, entertainment, and now the arts.”
This isn’t the first time Ross has plastered Miami-inspired art throughout his football team’s stadium. When he became majority owner of the team in 2008, Ross commissioned Romero Britto to paint his signature triangular murals throughout the stadium. It too was part of a renovation project to make the stadium seem more modern and Miami-like. The art, however, was met with backlash from fans and critics who saw Britto’s bold colors as an eyesore in a place where the football team plays its games. Ross ordered the murals to be painted over last year.
The major difference with the art this time around is that the murals have been painted throughout the stadium’s concourse, unlike Britto’s work, which was done throughout the stands and walls near the field of play.
The work is bright and colorful and definitely carries some Wynwood vibes. Each piece is unique and captures everything Ross and Goldman Global had envisioned. A piece by local artist Jen Stark features an array of colors dripping down throughout a section of white wall that gives the illusion of the wall melting (an unintended metaphor, perhaps, for the team). Another piece by twin brothers How & Nosm takes up almost three walls in a bold abstract adorned with details that are like Easter eggs for art admirers to find. The one football-related piece, by Chilean graffiti artist Dasic Fernández, depicts a football player wearing a gold helmet and holding up his hands, which are splashed in surreal tropical colors that drip skyward. Goldman Global Arts CEO Jessica Goldman Srebnick described the work as “No one specific player, but the universal football player and athlete in all of us.” (To this writer, the player vaguely resembles Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.)
The most profound, and likely to be most visited, piece, however, came at the end, when the team unveiled a mural of legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula. Vhils was commissioned for the piece, and it’s an impressive and breathtaking tribute to the winningest coach in NFL history. The work depicts Shula’s face, displaying the intense gaze that has made him a South Florida icon.
How Average Joe Six-Pack Dolphins Fan will react to the art is anyone’s guess — probably somewhere between mild indifference and unbridled rage. The fact remains that the product on the field is a mess and has been mired in mediocrity under Ross’ watch. Another attempt at mixing art and football will probably be met with resentment from a fed-up fan base.
But the rare person who loves both art and football (we exist, we promise) will appreciate what Ross and Goldman have done here. They’ve brought Wynwood and the Dolphins together, and it’s a funky combo.
Anything to distract us from the crap sandwich served up on the field every Sunday.
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Splash – Original Dolphin Painting, 102x76cm in Classic Black Frame
This dazzling dolphin painting was created as part of Kathryn Callaghan’s Spring/Summer 2022 art collection, inspired by these phenomenal creatures and their magical acrobatics, often seen around the coasts of Ireland and even as close as Strangford Lough. For the first time, two of Kathryn’s breathtaking large original paintings are available to purchase framed online. Splash’s sibling piece Bashful, featuring a gentle puffin, is available to view here. Please note that this price is based on collection from our Comber Studio. If you live outside Northern Ireland or would otherwise require this item shipped, please get in touch with us for a quote.
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Description
Framed locally in a stunning, classic matte black wood frame with an off-white double mount and pure UV protective glass, this original dolphin painting is the perfect breathtaking piece to complete any room in your home.
Splash features a pair of beautiful cerulean dolphins cavorting in the waves. An array of blue shades evokes the cold Atlantic waters these magical creatures call home, whilst the dolphins themselves leap through vibrant streaks of vivid pink, sunshine yellows, and subtle dashes of deep purple. This spectacular piece is framed using Conservation Ultraviolet Filter glass, which both protects the artwork from ageing light and grants a truly breathtaking clarity – allowing the genuine gold and silver leaf to catch the light and shimmer like never before. The artist’s signature, in unobtrusive pencil in the lower left corner, ties the piece together with a subtle authenticity.
What makes an original dolphin painting by Kathryn unique?
Kathryn uses a unique pouring technique to create her paintings, which creates a contact-free approach to making her artwork. Black ink is mixed with gel to create a new material which offers a new and unusual finish. The mix is poured from mid-air from an open neck bottle – much like pouring honey onto toast or olive oil onto bread. The finish is a textured, glossy image set against a smooth white board.
With no sketch underneath the painting, this freeform technique allows Kathryn to create truly original, organic pieces that are full of life and energy. The result is captivating and often evocative of how we feel about the subject in our minds. It is this ‘feeling’ that Kathryn strives to achieve through her work that gives it such resonance with collectors far and wide.
Image Size: approx. 75x50cm
Framed Size: approx 102x76cm
Get a deeper glimpse into how Kathryn works here.
Please note that due to the fragility of an original painting and the level of care required, there is a £150 cost for postage and packaging based on delivery within the UK. The cost of shipping includes insurance during transit. We do our best to source the most cost-effective shipping option possible, while retaining peace of mind for both you and ourselves, however, if you live within Northern Ireland, we strongly encourage you to collect your painting from our Comber based studio to avoid shipping fees and possible damage in transit!
