Friends of The Underline has narrowed its America250 public art commission to three finalists and is asking Miami residents to vote on their favorite. Voting closes Nov. 6 at www.theunderline.org/underline-plinth-public-vote, and residents can also leave comments.
The commission, called Sculpting the American Story, is the first project under The Underline Plinth Project, a new biennial effort that will showcase a rotating sculpture every two years. The America250 campaign and the National Endowment for the Arts support the program. The Underline Arts Advisory Council will make the final choice, weighing artistic excellence, public input and fit with America250 and the park’s public art goals.
Each artist responded to the same question: “What does it mean to be an American today?” The finalists are Carlos Betancourt and Alberto Latorre, whose “A Forest for Many” uses 50 golden bamboo poles to represent the states; Morel Doucet, whose “A Seat at the Table” shows three seated figures as a collective portrait; and Kennedy Yanko, whose “Tidal” is a folded aluminum form with a dark blue finish set on a mirror-polished stainless steel base.
The winner will be announced in mid-December. The installation is expected to debut in spring 2027 at The Underline’s Inter Grove Gallery, 2771 SW 27th Ave., near the Coconut Grove Metrorail Station. The park runs about 10 miles from the Miami River in Brickell to the Dadeland South Metrorail Station in Kendall.
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