Digitized vintage video footage of Rockne Krebs and his long-time assistant, Sid Smith, discussing public art on the site of the recently completed Miami Line in 1987. A transcript is included. The Miami Line is a one-quarter mile long neon sculpture on both sides of the bridge over the Miami River in downtown Miami, FL.

“I wanted it to have a little bit of the feeling that the original piece had of just sort of hanging out there in space.” Rockne Krebs, 1987 upon completion of The Miami Line.
#magicart floating through space for #themagiccity

“And so what they were getting, you know, was the best that I could give them as a result of several years of study at this site. And so, this is something I feel good about. I’ve been at it too long. I can’t, I don’t feel good when I know what’s right and there’s something that won’t allow it to happen. In fact, I almost can’t do it anymore. My body rebels, I have aches, I ache, I hurt when it happens that way. So, I try to avoid situations which would cause that. But in large scale public art pieces, there are so many things that can go down that just somehow get beyond the input and desires of the artist, that it’s rare to have it clicked together like this.” Rockne Krebs, 1987

“This early confluence of artists and inspired installations all but predicted Miami to be the art center that it has become.” William Dunlap, 2013

Instagram reel #1 https://tinyurl.com/2kys8c3j

Instagram reel #2 https://tinyurl.com/46e9nrsn