Designed to celebrate the legacy of Miami-Dade County’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer champions along with the milestones of the LGBTQ community, the colorful “Untitled” sculpture installed at Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park has come to define the space in North Miami, Florida. The sculpture has connected the community in a profound manner while also serving as an attraction for visitors from across the city and beyond.
Called Untitled (forms from MEDIAPRO HD ULTIMATE F/X 18 COLOR MAKEUP PALETTE), the piece was created by Miami artist Alan Gutierrez. It is comprised of 18 five-foot-tall, vertical marine grade paint-coated metal sculptural forms. Each is colored one of industry-standard makeup colors used by entertainers in various industries and capacities.
Gutierrez has mentioned that the colors are meant to emulate an emotive experience. While they are the specific colors used to convey a sense of the hyper-real for entertainment purposes, they also provide a sense of what can become someone’s reality, further connecting the piece to a sense of hope, pride and love that defines the LGBTQ community.
Untitled includes a timeline of Miami-Dade County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer history. Running from 1977-2017, it starts with Ruth Shack’s 1977 championing of gay rights and runs through the 2017 debut of Moonlight, the first LGBTQ film ever to win the Oscar for Best Motion Picture. The film was written and directed by Miami-Dade natives. This timeline showcases how the sculpture celebrates LGBTQ lives that inspires everyone while also acknowledging the legacy of LGBTQ milestones in Miami-Dade County’s history.
By highlighting the power of queerness to equally inspire and teach, Untitled showcases the power of monuments to celebrate a community while also providing a public space with a means of identity. Doing so can enable connection with audiences across communities, regions and time periods.
