Block Party
Dublin Core
Title
Block Party
Subject
Music
Mosaic glass
Description
For his first major public art commission, artist CJ Latimore uses a multiplicity of colored mosaic glass tiles to represent the vibrant community in and around the Audrey M. Edmonson Transit Village and adjacent Sandrell Rivers Theater in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood. In keeping with the artist’s practice of recognizing individuals and landmarks that celebrate the history and achievements of the community, Block Party creates a cultural-historical marker and builds a sense of pride. Identifying the Sandrell Rivers Theater as a site of cultural production, Block Party proclaims the site as a hub for dance, drama, acting, and building community around the celebration of creativity and expression.
Evoking the festive spirit of a block party, the work incorporates various iconic figures: a young girl dancing represents the potential of youth and the universal languages of dance and music, while the gentleman with a saxophone represents the jazzy mood of the Magic City. This lively rhythm was further expressed as the widely acclaimed Florida A & M Marching Band stomped down NW 7th Avenue in the 1980’s and early 1990’s during the annual Martin Luther King Day parade. Utilizing site conditions, Latimore created a three-dimensional effect to depict large custom speakers to reference beloved local radio stations including WEDR – 99 JAMZ, WMBM, and Radio DJ’s Les Brown and Clean-Up Woman, among others. Block Party presents cultural icons that invite viewers to celebrate the Community’s rich heritage and legacies, while looking into the future.
Evoking the festive spirit of a block party, the work incorporates various iconic figures: a young girl dancing represents the potential of youth and the universal languages of dance and music, while the gentleman with a saxophone represents the jazzy mood of the Magic City. This lively rhythm was further expressed as the widely acclaimed Florida A & M Marching Band stomped down NW 7th Avenue in the 1980’s and early 1990’s during the annual Martin Luther King Day parade. Utilizing site conditions, Latimore created a three-dimensional effect to depict large custom speakers to reference beloved local radio stations including WEDR – 99 JAMZ, WMBM, and Radio DJ’s Les Brown and Clean-Up Woman, among others. Block Party presents cultural icons that invite viewers to celebrate the Community’s rich heritage and legacies, while looking into the future.
Creator
CJ Latimore
Source
https://miamidadepublicart.org/#object/4704
Publisher
The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs
Date
2018
Contributor
Elizabeth Cummings
Rights
No copyright information known
Format
image/jpg
Identifier
04_ecummings_libertycityculturallegacymural_w
Coverage
6101 NW 7th Ave, Miami, FL 33127
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
3/4 inch Vitreous Glass Mosaic Tiles
Collection
Citation
CJ Latimore, “Block Party,” Commissioned Street Art Digital Library of Miami-Dade, accessed June 29, 2025, https://lis5472.cci.fsu.edu/sp23/group9/items/show/4.