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Ameristeel's Artistic Bent Is On Display

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: January 30, 2009

TAMPA - A Tampa-based steel company commissioned a series of pro football-oriented sculptures using material recycled from Miami's Orange Bowl for an interactive Super Bowl display and online charity auction.

Gerdau Ameristeel created a display designed with LED lights that will be part of the city's Lights on Tampa project through Monday at Cotanchobee Park in the downtown Channel District.

The display includes a 25 foot tall art structure topped by a 12 foot tall steel football, plus a dozen sculptures depicting teams in the National Football League playoffs this year.

"The sculptures were designed by artists in Tampa, Dallas and elsewhere," said Todd Brooks, the public relations representative managing Gerdau Ameristeel's Super Bowl program.

"They created 21 sculptures to account for teams that might have appeared in this year's playoffs, and all will be auctioned for charity."

Gerdau Ameristeel is donating all 21 sculptures, including a Tampa Bay Buccaneers' pirate ship, for an auction at www.eBay.com/steelart.

The starting price is $500 for 2-by-2-by-1-foot sculptures that weigh 8 to 80 pounds each, Bragalone said.

The auction, which runs through Feb. 5, will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County.

The large football at the Cotanchobee Park display is driven by a Web-based program generated by an online poll of viewers whose feelings about the Super Bowl will change the color of the ball.

Webcam views around the display are broadcast on www.tampapublicmoodring.com, where people can sign on to participate in the interactive presentation.

Gerdau, which employs 325 people at its Boy Scout Boulevard headquarters, plans to retain the larger exhibits for possible use at future Super Bowls.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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