There's little question that California-based artist Laura Kimpton (yes, scion of the late Kimpton hotels founder) will have one of the hottest shows in town. That's because Myths, Words and Fire, her nightly display at the SLS Hotel on Miami Beach, is a fire installation that literally will be aflame.
Kimpton first began making fire installations at the Burning Man festival 15 years ago. Since then, she's become known for sculptures of giant letters (she designs them, others build), monumental sculptures, mixed media works incorporating video and photography, and clothing. Many of her works are created from found objects. (Her second husband actually proposed at the Petaluma, Calif., dump.) She often incorporates bird motifs, which represent "flying free of neurosis -- free to do what you want."
Her Monumental Ego, a sculpture incorporating trophies and steel birds with video, stands in the SLS lobby. Out front are a giant letter, a smaller sculpture consisting of the word "Love," and a tree. All will be aflame nightly from 7-11 p.m. through Saturday. In back of the hotel, a centaur sculpture also will be afire. A crew of 15 help set up the installation and light it up.
If letters as tall as a two-story house don't fit your local zoning code, check out the pop-up shop in a poolside cabana, where T-shirts start at $43 and elaborate top hats are $500. Or just stop by for a look; that's free.
Laura Kimpton activation, Dec. 1-5, 7-11 p.m., SLS Hotel, 17th street and Collins Avenue on the ocean.
JANE WOOLDRIDGE
Comments