Art Underfoot
When art is unexpected, it has, perhaps, its greatest impact. That is what the developers of a mall property found when they installed custom floor art in Plaza Las Americas mall in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Intricate, painstakingly created, multi-media floor art medallions, installed in the common areas of Plaza Las Americas, have created a destination for art enthusiasts, tourists and shoppers.
“People are stunned when they see the floor art in person,” Harvey Namm, president of Pompano Beach, Fla.-based Artistic Surfaces, said. “They don’t expect to encounter the level of detail and vibrancy that is displayed in them. They are truly art in terrazzo.”
The project dates to 2000, when the Caribbean’s largest shopping mall completed a $250 million renovation and expansion that added a Macy’s department store and a 13-room cinema to the first American-style mall built in Puerto Rico.
Mall owner Empresas Fonalledas extended the renovation of its 2.1 million-sq.-ft. flagship property to that of a physical and artistic tribute to Puerto Rico. Four renowned local artists were commissioned to each create a piece of art that represented the flavor and the history of the island. From the resulting pencil drawings, Artistic Surfaces rendered floor medallions throughout the mall.
Terrazzo was the chosen flooring material for the medallions, and the stone is accented by glass, metal and other materials to add color and life to the art.
“Terrazzo was the perfect choice for rendering these pieces of art because it has such life and flexibility in color and design,” said Terri Floto, artist design coordinator for Artistic Surfaces. But the choice had its challenges.
“None of the artists had worked with terrazzo before,” explained Floto, “so they had to be trained in the properties of the materials so that they had an understanding of how all of the creative ideas I presented were integral to their original visions.”
Ultimately, seven pieces were installed, most over a three-year period. “The first three medallions, entitled Riachuelo, Montanas and Fauna Puertoriquena, were followed by an additional four,” said Namm, “Cosmos, La Flora Y La Fauna de Puerto Rico, Palma and Arroz con Habichuelas a Caballo.”
The floor art is steeped in Puerto Rican history. For example, Montanas, which is installed in the mall’s Grand Court, symbolizes the encounter between the Indians and Christopher Columbus upon his arrival to the island in 1493. The artistic details are unmatched.
Riachuelo features waterjet-cut brass inserts in the shape of fish and a frog; Montanas’ birds are rendered from the same cut-brass inserts. Cosmos features a large metal swoosh across the entire medallion.
“Some of the very small detailed work required some unconventional methods to create and steady hands by the installers,” said Floto.
The finished product has created a talked-about design element for a bustling shopping center that features the largest J.C. Penney in the world and the highest-grossing Border’s store.
“Plaza Las Americas has introduced new ideas and decorations to a commercial center,” said Alberto Richa, director of development for Empresas Fonalledas. “The product met all of our expectations and the expectations of the local artists who created the work.”