Audio By Carbonatix
Bar has changed its look for the fifth time. Now prolific Miami artist Bert Rodriguez takes a stab at luring drunk hipsters into the 14th Street watering hole.
The new black-and-white makeover at first seems simplistic, but take a closer look. The most drastic change: Bar’s iconic “black bar” hanging on the building’s facade has been painted white. Gasp! That means everyone who has been erroneously calling the place “Black Bar” or “Bar Black” need to find a new name. We’d suggest “White Bar” if it just didn’t sound so racist. Then again, general manager Raul Sanchez has told us the correct phonetic pronunciation of the symbol is and has always been Bar.
But there’s more! Rodriguez is introducing patrons to a new experience. “Bars are typically dark, so people can’t really see or interact
with each other. I wanted the space to disappear so all that’s left is
you. There’s nowhere to hide.”
Patrons are encouraged to
leave their mark on the new, stark-white walls. “The public can use
materials behind the bar to graffiti the walls.” The catch? All the “materials” are white as well. Rodriguez’s quirky alterations don’t stop there. At first glance, his black and white look seems facile — reminiscent of Freegum’s first look for the place. But take a closer look at the white walls and you’ll notice there are subtle white-on-white taggings all over. You are a sneaky one, Bert.
Check out more of Bar’s makeover courtesy of O.H.W.O.W.
