Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and County Officials Welcome Renowned Murals by Brazilian Artist Carybe MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, along with American Airlines and Miami-Dade County today will unveil the iconic Carybe murals at Miami International Airport's (MIA) South Terminal, where they will be permanently displayed. These important works of art associated with U.S. aviation and created by the renowned Brazilian artist had adorned the American Airlines terminal at JFK International Airport since 1960. In 1959, Carybe won first and second prizes for the murals in a competition aimed at bringing public art to JFK Airport. The murals ran the risk of being destroyed when the terminal at JFK was slated for demolition in 2007. Odebrecht invested in the preservation of the murals, including removing, restoring, transporting and re-installing them in Miami. An agreement signed in June 2008 transferred ownership of the Carybe murals from American Airlines to Miami-Dade County and was approved by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, County Manager George Burgess, Aviation Department Director Jose Abreu, American Airlines Senior Vice President Peter J. Dolara and Odebrecht USA CEO Gilberto Neves. "Odebrecht is proud to see this special project come to completion. Thanks to our partnership with Miami-Dade County and American Airlines, and our commitment to building communities, MIA is now home to two great pieces of art that serve as a legacy honoring all who have journeyed throughout the Americas," said Gilberto Neves, CEO of Odebrecht in the USA. The two murals, "Rejoicing and Festival of the Americas" and "The Discovery and Settlement of the West", are considered two of the most important works of art on display at U.S. airports. Each measures 16 ½ ft. x 53 ft. and depicts scenes of festivals and pioneer life in the Americas.
