Overview
Traditions, a luminous sculptural installation, illuminates the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, a cultural beacon in the vibrant Ft. Lauderdale metropolitan landscape.  Commissioned through the collaborative vision of the Broward County Cultural Division and the City of Lauderhill, Florida, this work transcends mere decoration, becoming an integral part of the center’s dynamic atmosphere.  The city’s aspiration was for a piece that would enhance the visitor experience and engage in a visual dialogue with the center and existing artworks.  The city emphasized the importance of innovation, inspiration, and vibrancy, seeking a work that would resonate with the center’s mission and diverse programming.  The work was also required to meet the stringent demands of both Florida Building Code and hurricane-resistant construction standards.

Through concept design, Morton and Zeljak immersed themselves in the rich tapestry of the local community’s cultural heritage, seeking to understand and reflect its essence.  They also studied the existing public art at the center, noting the recurring themes of rhythm and organic form, and allowing these elements to inform their own artistic expression.  The center’s core mission – to serve as a vital hub for community involvement, engagement, and artistic expression – served as a constant touchstone.  Both artists were further driven by a desire to create a form that would activate the space both day and night, offering a compelling visual experience regardless of the time of day. They decided to position the work to leverage the window curtain walls which multiply the presence of the illuminated installation after dark.

The resulting installation, a backlit figural wall relief, presents a powerful visual narrative. Three figures, rendered in a dynamic yet graceful posture, engage in a perpetual circular dance.  Their bodies, grounded yet seemingly weightless, reach and soar, their outstretched arms embracing the surrounding space.  Subtly woven across their forms is the topography of Lauderhill, a delicate cartographic rendering that connects the figures to the very land they inhabit.  This metaphorical dance around the city’s heart becomes a poignant expression of place, grounding the artwork in its specific context.  The rhythmic dynamism of the figures draws inspiration from the vibrant traditions of Caribbean folk dances, including the Tambu, Bélé, Calypso, and Soca. Traditions is crafted from highly durable, low-maintenance materials and technology.