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Historic Preservation Board allows Bass Museum sculpture to remain permanently
Summary
The Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board voted unanimously June 15 to remove a time limit on the temporary installation “Eternity Now” by Sylvie Fleury on the east facade of the Bass Museum, finding the installation reversible and not harming the building.
The Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board on June 15 approved a request from the Bass Museum to remove the time‑limit condition that originally made the sculpture Eternity Now temporary.
The request, filed as HPB210458, asked the board to modify a previously issued certificate of appropriateness to allow the artist Sylvie Fleury’s work to remain on the museum’s east facade. Staff told the board the piece was anchored with sandbags and did not harm the building’s original coral stone, and recommended approval.
Sylvie Fleury joined the hearing remotely and described how the sculpture has integrated with Collins Park and the city’s outdoor program “Art Outside” during the pandemic. Sherry Zambrano Jackson, registrar at the Bass Museum, told the board the work is in the museum’s permanent collection, is stored offsite when removed, and is taken down before storms following an established procedure using art handlers and contracted equipment.
Public commenters, including Daniel Seraldo of the Miami Design Preservation League, said the installation has been minimally invasive and has been a positive presence in Collins Park. Board members asked about the piece’s attachment method and storm‑protection procedures; staff and museum representatives described a sandbag anchoring method and annual procedures to remove and store the work during hurricanes.
A board member moved to approve the application based on staff recommendations; the roll call vote recorded Barbara Weinstein Berman, Rick Lopez, Kirk Pascal and other members as yes, and the motion passed unanimously.
Board action will allow the Bass Museum to retain flexibility about future display timing; staff said the museum may take the work down if it chooses and that the piece remains part of the museum collection.
Why it matters: the decision keeps an already‑installed work in a prominent public location and clarifies how the museum will handle future displays and storm procedures without repeated board petitions.
The museum and staff said they will continue to follow established removal procedures for storm events and to coordinate lighting and maintenance with city code where required.
