In the courtyard of the new Gables Ponce development near the Village of Merrick Park, a metal rose sprouts from a domed labyrinth made of stone.
The recently unveiled sculpture at the corner of LeJeune Road and Ponce de Leon Boulevard is the second work commissioned under the Art in Public Places program, which incorporates artworks into major new developments in Coral Gables.
The new sculpture is inspired by the labyrinths of the Gothic cathedrals of Europe and uses natural stone materials that relate to the project’s buildings and plaza, said artist Carlos Navarro, who was commissioned by the developer to create the work. Navarro — whose works have been commissioned by Bacardi, Ford Motors and Miami Dade College, among others — used patterns and motifs that evoke the Spanish and Mediterranean influences reflected in buildings across the City Beautiful.
Since the founding of the Art in Public Places program, Coral Gables has integrated civic art and special architectural features into the built and natural environment that reinforce the city’s unique identity.
