underwater sculpture garden

The City of Pompano Beach is looking to commission an artist/artist team for a work for hire project to design and fabricate a sculpture that will be displayed at the beach for a one year. After a year, it will be submerged into the ocean and attached to Lady Luck in Shipwreck Park. It will be the selected artist’s responsibility to work with South Florida Diving Headquarters to sink and attach the sculpture.

THEME

Theme for this project should focus on native marine life or other things synonymous with Florida, realistic or surreal. The artwork should be considered a designated area for taking photos/selfie station where visitors can interact/pose with the artwork. Kinetic artwork will not be considered. The artist must consider what the artwork will look like once it is submerged and becomes an artificial reef. It is important to note, that after a few months the artwork will contain moss and other marine life. The artwork should maintain it’s aesthetic. The artwork should not exceed 3 ft. x 3 ft. Wide and x 6 ft. tall in size and weigh a minimum of 500 pounds.

SHIPWRECK PARK

Shipwreck Park is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the creation of an underwater park system establishing artificial reefs, utilizing public art to raise awareness of the need to preserve and conserve our natural coral reef system. The purpose of Shipwreck Park Pompano is to develop and protect our coral reefs. For more information on Shipwreck Park, visit https://www.shipwreckparkpompano.org/.

“LADY LUCK”

Lady Luck is a 324 foot tanker vessel that was sunk on July 23rd, 2016 as an artificial reef 1 ½ miles off Pompano Beach’s shore. This ship is one of the biggest contributions to Florida’s artificial reef system and one of the most easily accessible major dive sites in the nation. The ship is the centerpiece of what is known as Shipwreck Park, surrounded by 16 other existing wrecks covered with marine life. Shipwreck Park is a unique underwater cultural arts park with rotating underwater art exhibits. The ship includes specific themes, exciting underwater events, artwork and art exhibits to create a unique dive experience for local and international tourists.

This sculpture will be the fourth Shipwreck Park specific sculpture added to the Lady Luck since the ship was sank.     

MATERIALS & SPECIFICATIONS

Since the artwork will be submerged in the ocean permanently and used as an artificial reef, specific materials must be used. Materials that are permitted are concrete, ferrous metals ¼ inch or more in thickness, clean steel and limestone boulders and must be clean from contaminants. Contaminant free-dye concrete tiles are permitted.

The sculpture must be no larger than 3 ft. x 6 ft. and weigh a minimum of 500 pounds. It must be clean and free from asphalt, petroleum, other hydrocarbons and toxic residues.

The artwork construction must provide for it to be lifted safely from at least 3 pick points so it may lowered in a level upright position by lift bag onto the Lady Luck.

PROJECT LOCATION

The sculpture will be displayed on land at a location to be determined for a period of one year before it is sunk and attached to Lady Luck at Shipwreck Park.

INSTALLATION

After the artwork has been displayed on land for one year, it will be sunk and attached to The Lady Luck at Shipwreck Park. The City will cover sinking fees up to $4,000.00. There are Stainless Steel Pipes, (3-1/2" outside diameter) welded to the deck of the ship. The work must include a connector that will slide OVER that pipe. There is a 3/4" through hole drilled in the middle of the 18" tall pipe. The 3/4" through bolt should secure your work to the connector assembly. See the attached diagram. Artist will need to provide and work with an engineer if necessary. Artist will also need to contact Shipwreck Park for details on connecting the artwork as part of the final approval process.

The two receivers for one artwork are required. The Lady Luck has been fitted with single receivers per artwork and the artist will need to work the Shipwreck Park and South Florida Diving Headquarters to install the second receiver.