In any case, when the renovation of Lincoln Road was completed in December, Zapata's design had not come to fruition; because unexpected problems with the mall's underground infrastructure had delayed construction, the more decorative architectural structure had been left for last. All that had been completed were the two pools and the concrete foundations.
The information booth had been included in the Lincoln Road budget at a cost of $265,000 and had been approved by the commission along with the other mall renovations. But as time passed and Ben Wood and Zapata pressed Rodriguez to have the contractor start on the information booth, the question arose as to whether it would be built at all. After the Lincoln Road Partnership, which had been slated to run the booth, was dissolved at the end of last year, a controversy developed over who would staff the structure. Both the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Miami Beach Hispanic Chamber of Commerce had expressed interest in running an information kiosk; once the administration of the booth became an issue, the city manager and others began to talk about building a more traditional booth instead. According to Rodriguez, city officials worried that Zapata's design couldn't be protected -- dogs were already using the pools as a toilet.
Zapata and Wood, who have become partners since the Lincoln Road project began, flew in from their Boston office for a commission meeting on March 5. The encounter was tense. While Wood attempted to show the commission a model of the structure, Commissioner Susan Gottlieb demanded to know how much the piece had already cost the city "in case we decide not to do it." Before the architects could state their case, Mayor Gelber abruptly dismissed the issue until the next meeting.
"I am not a yo-yo," a distressed Zapata said at the time. "This might be a game to them, but it is not one to me."
For the next two weeks, the architect called and visited with city officials and commissioners, attempting to convince them of the value of the project. He got most of the Lincoln Road property owners behind him as well. At a March 17 public hearing, art collector Mera Rubell vehemently gave her support to the plan. Even nonagenarian Morris Lapidus made an appearance. Rodriguez also gave the project the administration's support, and the commission finally gave the green light.
At the same meeting, the commissioners said the street furniture project should move ahead. But the city has still not issued the checks and signed the contracts. Gilbert, who has tried all along to reassure the artists that they'll see their work placed on Lincoln Road, says she doubts the city will deliver the money. "I'm afraid it's not going to get done at all," she laments.
As for Miralda, he's about ready to give up on the whole thing. He had arranged for a craftsman to custom-fabricate his Speed Love Seat, but now he doesn't know whether that person will be available if and when he gets the money. The artist himself is preparing to leave town for an extended period to prepare for an exhibition of his work that is set to open in Paris later in the year.
Last summer, after the city failed to supply funds for a full-scale prototype, Miralda built the half-size seat that's on display at Art800 on a trip to his native Spain, where he could save a few dollars on the labor. He recalls with a laugh that he sat the piece on his lap during the long flight back to Miami.
"It's not that this project is such a big deal," he says. "But with these people it's always the same thing. Nothing really works like they say it's going to. What a waste of time.
