JULY 25, 2023 KATE MOTHES
All images © Matthew Mazzotta
“Home,” a floor-to-ceiling sculpture by Matthew Mazzotta of a lifelike flamingo, taps into the multiple meanings of its title.
Known for stalking front lawns in plastic form as much as they wade through the shallows of Everglades National Park, Biscayne Bay, or the Keys, pink flamingos are practically synonymous with Florida. Around the turn of the 20th century, however, native populations were decimated due to overhunting. Although residents later began to foster captive colonies, of the estimated 260,000 to 330,000 mature birds worldwide, Florida is thought to accommodate only about one percent of them. For artist Matthew Mazzotta, the iconic avian and the importance of sharing space with wildlife inspired a monumental, immersive installation at Tampa International Airport.
“Home,” a floor-to-ceiling sculpture of a lifelike flamingo, taps into the multiple meanings of its title. Travelers passing through the terminal may be “leaving their homes, returning back home, going to a new home, or simply to a place that feels like home,” reads a statement. In addition to being a place that people dwell, Florida thrums with abundant wildlife, and Mazzotta brings viewers up close and personal with one of the state’s most treasured animals. […]
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