Abraham Cruzvillegas

Extending from Collins Avenue along the central promenade of the park leading up to the museum entrance, Agua dulce, a large-scale sculptural installation, encompasses nearly 14,000 square feet. Commissioned by the museum, the project will bring the artist’s philosophy of autoconstrucción or “self-construction,” a practice of resilience and generosity, to The Bass’ Collins Park. Utilizing numerous species of flora, fauna and mineral; performers mimicking native birds; and seating that the artist constructed with locally sourced materials, Agua dulce will form a plant environment in front of the museum, free for the public to enjoy. Through collaborative research with local experts on native flora, Cruzvillegas selected around 23 different species to create the installation of more than 1,000 plants. Many of the included species, like the Salix Caroliniana (Coastal Plain Willow), have medicinal properties and are regularly used by the Seminoles, introducing notions of care and restoration to the installation.