In urban spaces, having a destination is a given, leading many of us to walk with our heads down or focused on our phones. Looking up is usually reserved for more contemplative settings, but Elevate Española asks us to do just that.
What began in 2021 as a site-specific installation called Little Cloud Sky—a cheerful overcast of emoji clouds commissioned by the City of Miami Beach from the duo behind FriendsWithYou, Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III—has evolved into a public-art programme that now bi-annually commissions artist-created mid-air installations over the historic Española Way between Washington and Collins Avenues. The aim is twofold: engage the community and activate local businesses.
Since its launch, Elevate Española has showcased vibrant works like Edouard Duval-Carrié’s Trapeze Contortionists (2022); Jillian Mayer’s Very Moving and Eli Sudbrack’s adora vanessa athena fantasia (both 2023); and, earlier this year, Beatriz Chachamovits’s Heliotropic Seekers. For its latest iteration, the Miami-born and Los Angeles-based artist Jen Stark debuts Sundial Spectrum, her first public installation in her hometown.
Sundial Spectrum includes painted murals along the corridor walls, transforming the space into an immersive experience that plays with perception and light—guided not by technology but by the natural movement of the sun. Stark invites visitors to go beyond simple observation, diving into this playful space and becoming part of the work.
Jen Stark’s Sundial Spectrum (2024) at Elevate Española Photo: Peter Vahan
The piece features 13 hanging vinyl laminated polycarbonate shapes suspended above the palm-lined corridor. Each form is rendered in bold, concentric patterns with vibrant, psychedelic colours that appear to ripple and pulse. The designs include the artist’s signature forms—spirals, melting drips and radiating starbursts—creating a hypnotic visual rhythm against a clear blue sky. Stark describes it as a “colour sundial, where at different parts of the day, the sun will reflect different colours”. As sunlight passes through her semi-transparent forms, it casts dynamic reflections and splashes of colour onto the street below.
Stark’s installation marks a pivotal homecoming, celebrating her journey from Miami to the global stage. “Growing up in Miami, I was influenced by all the cultures, colours and plants there,” she tells The Art Newspaper. “Now, I’m bringing that inspiration back to my hometown, and I’m excited to be here.” She emphasises that the installation is an inclusive and welcoming space for those who may not frequent museums or galleries: “It’s a place where everybody can see and be inspired by it,” she says.
Returning to her roots is not only a moment of reflection and celebration for Stark. It also highlights how the city of Miami is becoming a bigger player on the international art stage, fuelled by the very artists who began their careers there.