Xavier Cortada, “Diatom Fountain, ” 16′ x 8′ x 8′ hand-carved, hand-painted ceramic and mosaic on concrete, 2017.
(Smathers Plaza | Little Havana, Miami-Dade Housing Authority)
Standing sixteen feet tall and composed of 1,616 hand-painted ceramic tiles, Diatom Fountain brings the microscopic beauty of diatoms into public view. Installed at Smathers Plaza in Little Havana, the sculpture features four vertical water channels that symbolically disrupt the flow of diatoms — echoing how canals and dredging have altered the natural flow of water through the Everglades. This public artwork invites viewers to reflect on the role of diatoms in monitoring water quality and flow across Florida’s ecosystems.
