Bringing the beach indoors

Art Business News, Oct, 2004

MIAMI--A selection of artist Joe Gemignani's beach shots will hang on the walls of all 30 floors in the new Fontainebleau II hotel that is opening in late fall, allowing visitors to view the beach from the indoors. Some of his Polaroids were originally shot within miles of the hotel and the surrounding beaches, including Miami Beach, South Beach, Hollywood Beach, Fort Lauderdale Beach and Golden Beach.

"When I began experimenting with a Polaroid SX-70 and Time Zero film 15 years ago," says Gemignani, "I never imagined the photos I took would eventually find a home as part of the Miami Beach landmark. I was just having fun experimenting with the camera I bought at a garage sale."

Gemignani began shooting because of his love for the beaches in South Florida. After taking the picture, he would then use wooden sticks or other sharp tools to apply a painting technique to the photograph, creating an Impressionistic image.

The Fontainebleau II will hang 420 signed, matted and framed prints, which will be later installed for the fall 2004 grand opening.