(NPR's Greg Allen tells us more about the art fair underway in Miami that he reported about on Morning Edition. And, he sends along a photo and video of a very big alligator.)
People in Miami are seeing some strange sights this week thanks to Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the nation's largest art fairs.
Hovering over a Miami Beach Hotel, there's a gigantic inflatable art installation — which talks. At one of the satellite art shows, there's a piece featuring a miniature roller coaster. It careens through a landscape of candy and scantily-clad models titled, "Sugar and Gomorrah."
But perhaps the most eye-catching art work is floating off the city in Biscayne Bay: A mechanical alligator head that's nearly 100-feet long.
It's an homage to the artist Christo who, 30 years ago, surrounded 11 islands off Miami with pink polypropylene fabric. The artist behind the Gator in the Bay project, Lloyd Goradesky, says he also wants to draw attention to the Everglades.
If all goes well, in phase 2 of the project, planned for next May's anniversary of the Christo installation, Goradesky and his partners hope to add a 200-foot long body and tail to the gator head.
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