See ‘Lucky Mike’ at Lighthouse ArtCenter

This summer, visitors to the Lighthouse ArtCenter have reveled in “Roadside Reveries,” on view through August 1. The exhibition, curated by Anthony Record, brings together 22 contemporary artists from across Florida and the United States to explore the strange beauty and nostalgia of Florida’s vacation culture. From hand-painted signage and souvenir-like sculptures to surreal taxidermy and mermaids, the exhibition captures the quirky spirit of roadside attractions and the wonder they inspire.

Among the standout pieces is Lucky Mike, a 10-foot-long sculpture of a leaping marlin by mixed media artist Rene Gibson, encrusted with nearly 100,000 shimmering crystals that catch and reflect the light in dazzling, ever-changing ways.

Composed of crystals in 36 different colors and enhanced with 13 specialty coatings, Lucky Mike glows with a dreamlike quality.

The marlin’s journey from concept to completion began in 2017, and spanned several years and personal milestones. After beginning the piece, Gibson was sidelined by a vestibular virus and later diagnosed with breast cancer. During her recovery, the work took on deeper meaning.

For more information, visit lighthousearts.org or call (561)746-3101.