Coral Gables gets a kick of color with ‘Umbrella Sky’

By Centre-Line  | August 31, 2018

Happy sextafeira! That’s Portuguese for ‘Friday’, and the name of the Portugal-based creative agency that has temporarily transformed Downtown Coral Gables with the uber colorful Umbrella Sky installation.

Umbrella Sky draws in large crowds on weekends to take Instagram selfies and drink cafés under the rainbow shade of +/- 800 sombrillas. “This captivating art project is a great example of our commitment to increase art and cultural experiences in the City Beautiful,” said Coral Gables Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli. “Umbrella Sky will undoubtedly drive more people into our Downtown, but we hope they stay to dine and shop while here.”

Coral Gables is the first city in South Florida and the third city in the U.S. to host the Umbrella Sky art project and is also the largest of the three installations. The city of Coral Gables has remained committed to bringing and fostering art in the community and it has paid off. Last year, the City of Coral Gables introduced the famed kinetic artwork of Carlos Cruz-Diez along crosswalks in front of City Hall and the Coral Gables Museum. Venice in the Gables, a public arts initiative, is now on display in downtown Coral Gables with eight-foot-tall replicas of Venetian mooring posts all uniquely painted by local artists. Art creates culture, and culture create a destination location, a cool place to be.

Umbrella Sky won’t last long. The floating umbrellas opened-up on July 13 and are on display until September 16, 2018. You can find them in recently renovated Giralda Plaza at 100 block of Giralda Avenue in Coral Gables. Check out the City of Coral Gables website for more information.