Tom Patti Miami Rain Sculpture

TOM PATTI's MIAMI RAIN Sculpture Reflects the Spirit of Miami

MIAMI, Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Motorists eastbound on I-395 going to Miami Art Basel in Miami Beach this week or the Wynwood Arts District need to check out artist TOM PATTI's MIAMI RAIN, the iconic public artwork on the north and west walls of the Marquis parking garage at 1100 Biscayne Boulevard.

Completed this year, the monumental sculpture is a constantly changing diagonal field of colorful, laminated optical glass and metal that reflects the spirit of Miami and distinguishes itself as a gateway to the Arts District.

To moving vehicles on the adjacent elevated highway, passengers on the Metromover and those on the street below on their way towards the Adrienne Arsht Center, the facade emanates a daylight pattern of spectral color that moves across the surface as the afternoon sun transverses the building. Light animates the sculptural work and the elements of color, texture, reflection and refraction continuously shift with the changing light to create a wave of light and energy that reflects on the wall or back to the viewer. Nighttime the illuminated artwork exudes the sensual and vibrant power of Miami.

This fall, TOM PATTI also joined forces with Syd Mead (the conceptual designer and futurist) to create major art installations at Jeffrey Chodorow's new FOODPARC and BAR BASQUE by architect Philip Koether at the EVENTI hotel on 6th Avenue and 30th in New York. The major concept for the glass wall art pieces relates to the use of colors and lighting as it affects the natural environment and the mood of the inhabitants.

At the EVENTI site, Patti created STACCATO ART LENS WALL, a glass wall running the entire length of the hotel's outdoor public plaza. The colored art lenses are light and site line specific. During daylight hours, they reflect natural light and change colors, depending on the view angle. During the evening, the lenses transmit color and white light to illuminate the plaza and create an ambiance for street and plaza pedestrians. The art piece for the outdoor plaza is collaboration with Lee Weintraub Landscape Architecture and Lightfield.

Patti is currently involved in a two year long copyright litigation battle with Sean Jean Combs and M.A.C. Cosmetics (a division of Estee Lauder) over the container design for the UNFORGIVABLE men's fragrance. Patti's sculpture was originally made in 1981. Sean John Unforgivable was launched in 2006. The obvious similarity and gap in time suggests the fact there is an issue. Johan Liden and M.A.C. Senior VP James Gager - the designers behind the Unforgivable cologne bottle - are ones to question, according to the artist.