More than 200 cities applied for the 2018 Public Art Challenge with proposals reflecting diverse artistic mediums that addressed a range of pressing issues and social themes such as community development, environmental sustainability, cultural identity, and immigration. After announcing fourteen finalists, five cities were selected as winners, including Coral Springs, Florida, Marquardt & Behar proposal, “PEACE & LOVE”, and four additional projects.
Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, chairman of Everytown for Gun Safety, and former mayor of New York City, said in a statement, “This project is a powerful example of the ways public art can bring communities together and draw attention to important issues. I hope that it will help bring some solace to people who have lost loved ones to gun violence, including all the families in Parkland—and that it will help to prevent further tragedies by inspiring more people to act.”
Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge encourages mayors to partner with artists, elevating the value of including the creative sector when developing solutions to significant urban issues. The program supports temporary public art projects that celebrate creativity, enhance urban identity, encourage public private collaboration, and strengthen local economies.
R & R Studios' PEACE & LOVE public art project will be installed for the second anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on February 19, 2020, in Coral Springs, Florida.
PEACE & LOVE is a social sculpture made out of tens of thousands of flowers spelling the words "Peace & Love." Measuring at 120 x 30 feet high, this “super billboard” will create a temporary square and will become an instant landmark, proving to not only be a place of awe and recollection, but also a beacon of compassion and care for the community.
