MIAMI MOUNTAIN: MEMORY, MATERIALS AND PUBLIC ART
Kindergarten – 5TH Grades (Ideal for Ages 5-11)
BIG IDEA
Public art combines engineering, design, and storytelling. Artists transform natural materials into monuments that shape how we experience shared spaces.
LESSON OVERVIEW
In this single-session lesson, students explore how a monumental public art is imagined, engineered, installed, and experienced. After viewing a short behind-the-scenes video of the making and installation of Miami Mountain, students draw from memory and construct a small-scale stacked sculpture using natural and man-made materials. Students investigate memory, structure, balance, and public space while making connections across science, engineering, mathematics, and art. The lesson concludes with reflection on how public art transforms community spaces. Students are invited to extend their learning through a visit to The Bass Museum of Art to see Miami Mountain in person at Collins Park.
KEY ARTWORKS & REFERENCES
- Miami Mountain (2016), Ugo Rondinone
- Documentation video of fabrication and installation process
- Public art context in Collins Park, Miami Beach
MATERIALS
- Short installation video (see presentation below)
- Drawing paper
- Pencils and erasers
- Natural materials (stones, shells, sticks)
- Recycled materials (cardboard, containers, tubes)
- Magnifying glasses (optional)
- Rulers (optional for measurement comparison)
LESSON RESOURCES
Be sure to share your artwork by taking a picture of your project and tagging @BassCreativityCenter and #BassCreativityCenter.
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