Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YnlEb4CCP0&list=PLOQvdw7d0cd9RZZkd2lZy2hmrnJv-cfLI&index=40
Evan Snow: So we are back here on the Choose954 podcast, episode 58, with local artist and sculptor, Nilda Comas, at her beautiful studio here in Tarpon River. If you didn’t know about Choose954, we started a social movement to cultivate culture and community here in Broward County in an effort to make this a better place to live and not just a better place to vacation. The point of the podcast is to connect you with amazing people like her who are doing important things in the community. When you see and realize how many things she’s done in the community, you’ll have a whole different appreciation for art, public art, and sculptures. Thankfully, she’s added quite a bit to the Fort Lauderdale landscape. This podcast is sponsored by the Thousand Mermaids Artificial Reef Project, creating artistically crafted artificial reefs in the form of mermaid sculptures that we put in the ocean to help save the reefs, create ecotourism, provide habitat for fish, research opportunities, and countless other benefits. To find out more, you can log on to www.thousandmermaids.com.
Nilda Comas: Thank you, Evan. My studio is called Nilda Comas Art Studio. I was born in Puerto Rico and grew up there until I came to college. I had a real estate office for 17 years here in Fort Lauderdale, but I always knew my passion was in the arts. I’ve been an artist since I was a little girl and knew I would eventually do it professionally. I worked in real estate until I had enough capital to go on my own and become a professional sculptor. I went to the New York Academy of Art and studied there for two years to get my master’s degree on a scholarship. After closing my real estate office, I felt I needed more education. I had been going to Carrara, Italy, to learn how to carve marble—everyone said you have to go to Italy to learn marble carving, so I did. I found that many of the sculptors from all over the world had extensive education, so I applied to the New York Academy, got a scholarship, and studied there. Afterward, I returned to Italy.
I’ve always been back and forth between Italy and Fort Lauderdale because I’ve been invested in the community for 41 years. I’ve been part of the contemporaries at the Museum of Art and many other boards. I really love Fort Lauderdale. I had a studio in Italy for 27 years, and the one we are in now has been here for 17 years.
Evan Snow: For those who aren’t familiar with your work, could you tell us a little about your creative process and how you create these beautiful pieces of art?
Nilda Comas: I create small models here in the studio with a focus on leaving a legacy. For example, I worked on the Seminole Spring, bringing the Seminole presence back to Fort Lauderdale for the 500th anniversary of Florida. I also have other monuments that focus on leaving a legacy. Right now, I’m working on a sculpture of Mary McLeod Bethune for the Capitol, carved from marble that comes from the same quarry as Michelangelo’s David. It’s the largest piece I’ve worked on in 35 years—11 tons. When completed, it will be the first African American in the National Statuary Hall.
I’m also back and forth to Italy six times a year and teach on Fridays and Saturdays. I love teaching and sharing my knowledge with students. I teach painting, drawing, and sculpture here in Fort Lauderdale, using the European method where students work on different mediums in the same space. I focus on teaching techniques to help them express their creativity.
Evan Snow: You have quite a wealth of knowledge and experience that could benefit any artist at any level. We’ll link to your classes and workshops in the comments. You’ve also contributed significantly to the public art landscape in Fort Lauderdale. What are some of the more noteworthy pieces people might recognize but might not know were created by you?
Nilda Comas: I started with "Little Blader," which is at Colee Hammock Park. That was thanks to Terry Stiles, who allowed me to place a sculpture in front of his building. Someone saw it, liked it, and decided to donate it to the park where the children play. It’s been there for 19 years. I also created "Play Ball," a sculpture at Holiday Park, which is a tribute to baseball and a memory of Carol Drum. Additionally, I sculpted the "Tequesta Indian," located at Lewis Landing Park around the corner. That was commissioned by the Tarpon River Association, marking the site where Tequesta artifacts were discovered not long ago.
I enjoy these legacy projects and am always involved in competitions to get new projects. For example, I was a finalist for the first sculpture of women in Central Park, and I’m still working on getting a suffrage sculpture here in Florida. I’m also working on a potential Veterans Memorial.
My work starts in clay, and then I transfer the models to my studio in Italy, where I decide whether the final piece will be in bronze or marble. I’ve been doing this for many years, and I also take groups of students to Italy twice a year to visit other studios and cultural sites.
Evan Snow: You touched on some interesting points—art is history, communication, and storytelling. It’s how we pass on legacies over time so people can understand the past. With your prolific career and contributions to public art, what are some things you would want people to know about your work and sculptures that they might not realize just by seeing them?
Nilda Comas: My work is permanent. I use materials that have endured through the ages, like bronze and marble, which have been used since the Etruscans started bronze casting 2,000 years ago. I believe that having sculptures, music, dance, and other forms of art in a town makes people happier and more connected to their humanistic side. Children who grow up around art develop a sense of pride in their community. They become proud of their talents and have a stronger connection to their surroundings.
Art, especially public art, fosters creativity in people, which is valuable whether they become artists or go into other fields like business. Nurturing creativity is important, and having access to art, especially public art, helps develop that creativity.
Evan Snow: That’s a great point. Public art is the most accessible and free form of art for people to appreciate, and it does draw connections from an early age. Speaking from a business perspective, the arts bring a lot of business to a community. We’ve seen it with Miami’s Wynwood. The arts attract visitors, support local businesses, and make a place more vibrant and exciting. It’s important to have something that unites everyone in a town, whether it’s a theater, a concert, or a piece of public art.
Nilda Comas: Yes, the arts also bring business and help a community grow. When a town has a strong arts scene, businesses are more likely to move their headquarters there. Arts and culture help attract and retain talented, skilled workers. I’m glad to see that Fort Lauderdale is starting to integrate art and business into the dialogue, as you mentioned with the upcoming Fort Lauderdale Forum event.
Evan Snow: Absolutely. Art plays a big role in attracting and retaining talented workers, and that’s one of the reasons Fort Lauderdale Forum asked you to speak at their next event. It’s important to keep the conversation going about how art and business intersect. What are some other ways people can connect with you or take advantage of your classes and workshops?
Nilda Comas: I’m always happy to speak at events to reach more people. It’s important to raise awareness about the arts and provide spaces for artists to work. It’s a big problem for artists to find affordable studios, and I’d love to see more support for that in our town. In cities like New York and Paris, there are partnerships with the city to provide affordable spaces for artists, which brings more business and tourism to the area.
Evan Snow: That’s exactly what we’re working on with our Zero Empty Spaces program. We’re activating vacant commercial real estate on a month-to-month basis and providing affordable studio spaces for artists. We’re up to seven locations now, offering studios for as low as $120 a month with water and electricity included. It’s a creative solution to help artists pursue their craft and be discovered by the public.
If people are interested in finding out more about you or potentially working on a commission, where can they find you online?
Nilda Comas: You can find me by Googling my name, Nilda Comas, or visit my website, NildaComas.com. I’m also active on social media.
Evan Snow: We’ll link to your website and social media in the comments. I also hope we can have you speak at our Creative Zen event in the future. Our next Creative Zen takes place every second Friday morning of the month. It’s a free breakfast lecture series where we connect, engage, and inspire the creative community. The next event will be hosted at Lawrence Pringle’s new space, Art Chapel, on Dixie Highway. We’d love to have you join us.
We also have our fourth annual FemAle Brewfest coming up, highlighting women in the craft beer industry, female-owned breweries, female bands, chefs, and artists. It’s happening on Saturday, March 21st, at Dania Pointe. You can find out more at FemAleBrewfest.com.
And of course, we’re still hosting our Choose954 Local Artist Discovery Series every Wednesday at YOLO. It’s a live art pop-up where we provide the canvas, easel, and table at no cost to the artist. We’ve been doing it for 156 consecutive weeks. It’s a great way for local artists to connect with the downtown crowd.
Evan Snow: We have some more Zero Empty Spaces grand openings coming up soon, so keep an eye out for those. If you want to reach out to me, I’m Evan Snow at EvanSnow13 on social media, or you can contact me through Choose954.com. I’d love to hear why you choose the 954. Just to wrap up, you’ve been here for a while—why do you choose the 954 and Fort Lauderdale?
Nilda Comas: Fort Lauderdale is my home, and I love the downtown area. It’s exciting—I can get on my bicycle and go to Las Olas, a concert, or take a boat ride on the river. I recently took the Brightline up to West Palm Beach with my bicycle and explored the area. It’s a great place to live, and I enjoy being part of this vibrant community.
Evan Snow: That’s wonderful. Watch out for us on our bicycles, and we look forward to seeing you at some upcoming events. Don’t hesitate to reach out and tell us why you choose the 954. Cheers!
Nilda Comas: Cheers!
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