The week that was
It was a wonderfully productive week and for that I’m truly thankful.
But I was also able to play a little, which is what this “semi-retirement” of mine is supposed to be all about.
Utility box painted by artist Cavan Koebel at Griffing Park. Photo courtesy of NoMi CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency).
Last Friday I attended the unveiling of some colorful public art at Griffing Park, just mere blocks from my house. The utility boxes and benches in this cute, triangular park in my city are now works of art, painted with colorful images by artist Cavan Koebel. Click here to read my article on this, as well as other planned Art in Public Places projects in North Miami. I’m excited to see these new initiatives come to life and liven up our neighborhood.
Image courtesy of the MOCA website.
Wednesday was special all the way around because it was Elizabeth’s 17th birthday and for Cinco de Mayo, I spent the afternoon with my best friend Monica. We had a lovely Mexican meal at La Santa Taqueria in Little River, it was fantastic. Super hot because we sat outside, but the conversation, cold beer and delicious food made it all worth it. We then headed to MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami) to view their current exhibition. The show features a variety of pieces by the late artist Michael Richards, whose work takes visitors on a historic journey that includes sculptures and installations that tell a poignant story of cultural significance and explore themes of repression and social injustice. Click here to take a deeper dive into the exhibition and the artist who created it.
The day ended with Chinese food from Elizabeth’s favorite restaurant Dumpling King in North Miami Beach and singing her happy birthday while she blew out the candles on a Carvel ice cream cake.
My favorite piece from the show “Jenny Brillhart: Housekeeping” at Emerson Dorsch Gallery.
And to complete my cultural fix this week, today I stopped by the Emerson Dorsch Gallery in Little Haiti owned by our good friend Brook Dorsch and his wife Tyler. There, I fell in love with the works of Jenny Brillhart, whose solo exhibition features her lovely pastel heavy works that captivated me and drew me in with their use of light and space. Pictured above was my favorite piece in the show which actually sold and I wasn’t surprised. If you live in Miami, try to get to the gallery by May 22 and check out this beautiful show. Click here to learn more about Brillhart’s process and see her body of work.
Finally, this week I also began the process of reviewing cultural grants for the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. It’s my second (maybe third, I’m not sure) time that I’m asked to serve on this grant panel and although it’s an arduous task, I love reading about the amazing work Miami’s cultural organizations are doing. Awarding them the dollars they need to continue creating is always a pleasure.
That’s it for this week folks! See you again next Friday when I have a special story planned about an organization that is very near and dear to my heart.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms reading.
Be well and peace always.
