Art Week’s been a blur

It’s been a good blur though, had some amazing experiences and meaningful conversations, met some great artists and now I’m ready to rest. I will not be going over the Causeway to visit any of the big fairs on Miami Beach. Untitled Art and Art Basel, which I visit yearly, will have to wait. I’ve done enough already.

Let’s go back to last Saturday when Vance and I went to the Wutzler home to enjoy their annual tradition of Turkey Tortilla Soup. They make this delicious concoction with their leftover turkey and it’s always a winner. It was a fun night of conversation and great football and oh, yummy soup!

Sunday was chill, we bought the Christmas tree and Elizabeth decorated the house and she and I decorated the tree together. I love how it all came out.

Modern dance performance during AIRIE event.

Monday began my Art Week adventures with a stop at AIRIE’s show at The Carter Project in Wynwood. It featured the works of a few Artists in Residence in the Everglades as well as a moving modern dance performance. I loved the open air space where it was all presented. It’s up through Sunday if you’re interested.

The Elephant Migration

Star Compass installation

Another cool installation on the sand, just a few blocks away.

After that I did cross over the Causeway to attend the unveiling of Star Compass, an installation on Miami Beach at 36 St. and Collins Ave. on the sand, alongside The Elephant Migration installation. Both are projects addressing sustainability so it makes sense to showcase them side by side. Star Compass was created by local artist Carlos Betancourt and will be part of the massive project The ReefLine a sustainable underwater art installation. I wrote about it, you can click here to read my article. The project is spearheaded by a group of like-minded, environmentally aware advocates. Fantastic team assembled for this one. Both installations will be on view through Sunday.

The cast of “Some Like it Hot” dancing after their final bow.

Tuesday night I invited my friend Michelle to join me for the media preview of “Some Like it Hot” at the Arsht Center. They had some pre-show festivities including swing dance lessons and a cocktail demo. We had a great time and the play was a showstopper with non-stop slapstick, song and dance and an underlying heartwarming theme. The show ends on Sunday.

Thursday morning I attended the annual YoungArts Breakfast at their beautiful building on Biscayne Blvd. Aside from having a delicious breakfast to start the day, I got to take in their exhibitions in both their main building and in their Jewel Box space. The shows will be up for a while, so there’s time to see them.

Piece by artist Robert Obier at Art Miami Fair.

Sculpture at Art Miami.

More interesting work at Art Miami, black & white which is my favorite.

Another piece from Art Miami/Context.

Afterwards, I drove just a few minutes south and took in two Art Basel satellite fairs, Art Miami and Context right near the Arsht Center facing the bay. I spent a good two hours weaving up and down and through aisles, taking my time looking at beautiful sculptures and industrial design pieces which were my favorite. I also spoke to the artists of of the works I admired and am looking forward to learning more about them. Their names are Robert Obier an artist and industrial designer from New Orleans and Cuban-born artist Minos Azahares from Guantanamo who now makes Costa Rica home. Azahares’s politically charged work addresses censorship under a communist state and his contemporary expressionist style immediately draws your attention. It sure did mine and we had a long and meaningful conversation on the subject. Didn’t take any photos because I was so engrossed in conversation but I encourage you to check out his website.

I made yet another stop on my way home at the Green Space Miami exhibit and event space on 73 St. and Biscayne Blvd. I wanted to see their current exhibition “Unveiling Power: Examining Influence” featuring a variety of very personal multi media and photography installations. These artists show their vulnerability in their work and although at first some of the pieces may seem trivial, I invite you to visit and read about the work, I promise that you will be moved and admire the bravery the artists display pouring their hearts out for visitors to the space. I certainly was moved.

Afrikin Art exhibit at Scott Galvin Community Center in North Miami.

Another piece on display at Afrikin Art show.

Taken from the top of the staircase at Scott Galvin Community Center, it’s quite a view.

Finally today, I stayed in my neighborhood and took in the Afrikin Art exhibition at the Scott Galvin Community Center just 10 minutes from my house. I met a very interesting woman who took me on a mini tour of the massive show and we plan to keep in touch as well. Although she’s based in San Diego, she’s an art consultant/producer and travels to South Florida often and I may attend one of her events in West Palm Beach in January.

And you know I always have to share my articles so here’s my latest for Biscayne Times on the public art on view at PortMiami that’s part of our Art in Public Places program. I was so happy to finally see this one published, it had been in the works for a while. Click here to read it.

Let’s just say it was an eventful and fulfilling week and now I’m ready to rest up this weekend.

Have a great weekend everyone! See you next Friday.