The Underline Unveils Gio Swaby’s “Steady Sunward,” Honoring Miami’s Bahamian Heritage
Commissioned with support from the Knight Foundation, the installation honors the cultural legacy of Little Bahamas of Coconut Grove
Friends of The Underline, the City of Miami, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Coconut Grove community joined acclaimed Bahamian artist Gio Swaby on Saturday, August 29, to unveil Steady Sunward, a permanent public art installation celebrating Black womanhood, sisterhood and Miami’s deep Bahamian roots.
Installed across four Metrorail support columns along The Underline in Coconut Grove, Steady Sunward is located at columns 374 and 375 northbound and southbound, a short walk from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade. The installation expands The Underline’s growing collection of public art, transforming the infrastructure beneath Miami’s Metrorail into a canvas for cultural expression and community storytelling.
The artwork takes its name from a line in the Bahamian national anthem, “March On, Bahamaland,” and features silhouetted figures inspired by the circle of women Swaby knew while growing up in Nassau.
“For viewers, these silhouettes hold the warmth of familiarity, generating reflections of mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters and friends. These murals are inspired by the vivid colour palettes of both Miami and Nassau, honouring the long-standing connection between the two places,” elaborated Swaby.
The installation is located within Little Bahamas of Coconut Grove, the historic enclave settled by Bahamian immigrants beginning in the 19th century. Their craftsmanship, labor and cultural traditions played an important role in the development of Coconut Grove and early Miami. The City of Miami formally recognized Little Bahamas as a historic neighborhood in 2022.
“Public art is foundational to The Underline’s vision of creating a civic space that not only connects communities, but also reflects the histories, cultures and identities that define them,” said Eulois Cleckley, CEO of Friends of The Underline. “Through Gio Swaby’s extraordinary work, Steady Sunward gives enduring expression to the Bahamian community’s profound influence on Coconut Grove and the development of Miami, ensuring that this important legacy remains celebrated for generations to come.”
The community unveiling brought the artwork’s cultural influences to life with a live Junkanoo performance and Bahamian light bites. Residents and visitors had the opportunity to experience the traditions and heritage behind the installation while gathering in the public space surrounding it.
The artwork was commissioned with generous support from the Knight Foundation. It was created as part of Arte D4, City of Miami Commissioner Ralph Rosado's district-wide public art program, established under his C.A.S.A. master plan for Community, Adaptability, Safety, and Affordability. The unveiling was made possible with the support of the Knight Foundation, City of Miami Commissioner Damian Pardo, Commissioner Rosado, and the Boys and Girls Club. Commissioner Rosado delivered remarks at the event, reflecting the city's commitment to making public art part of Miami's everyday landscape.
Steady Sunward joins a growing collection of artwork that establishes The Underline as a living art destination and connects residents with culture as they walk, bike, exercise, commute and gather beneath the Metrorail. Five continuous miles of The Underline are currently open, extending from the Miami River in Brickell to Douglas Road in Coral Gables.
In the near future, Friends of The Underline will launch a documentary-style video series spotlighting the artists behind its public art collection. Swaby’s episode on The Underline’s YouTube channel will take viewers behind the scenes of Steady Sunward and into her experience designing a public artwork for Miami.