Wedding Shoes

On June 28, 2016, an unknown vandal set the pavilion at Atlantic Dunes Park on fire. For the thrill of the moment, the vandal took away the place of memories of perhaps hundreds – couples, families and friends. The simple park shelter was my marriage chapel.

Atlantic Dunes Park
1605 S Ocean Blvd, Delray Beach, FL 33483

For most people, the arson was a pointless act costing inconvenience to all beachgoers. The Wedding Shoes installation reminded beachgoers that the pavilion was a place of significant life events. As a broader artistic idea, all places hold someone’s powerful memories that remain invisible to everyone else.

Installation: October 12 – October 18, 2016
Opening Event: Wednesday, October 12th – 5 pm to 6:30 pm. Free.
Closing Photograph: Sunday, October 16 – 4:30 pm. (Photograph of everyone with memories of personal special events at the Atlantic Dunes Pavilion)

The pavilion at Atlantic Dunes Park in Delray Beach. Photo by Steve Lopez.

Physically, the installation included about 30 pairs of used shoes, a bible and a boombox. The bible was raised a foot off the ground and the boombox was set on a wooden bench similar to the one burned. All the soles of all shoes were attached to short cardboard tubes that raised the shoes to an imaginary deck an inch above the current sand. (Not raised to the former height of the pavilion)

Along the railing overlooking the art installation, signage explained the artwork and weddings that have been held at the pavilion. A facebook page – Atlantic Dunes Memories – was used to collect the images and stories or memories in the pavilion. In addition to online posting, they were printed, laminated and zip-tied to the railing.

When the pavilion is reconstructed, I had hoped that some method might mark the history of the pavilion’s memories – including our wedding -Maria and Glenn Weiss, May 16, 2003. The pavilion was reconstructed in 2018 without any imbedded memories.

All photographs and written memories can be found and posted on Facebook. Please click here.