Category: Miami

Miami, Florida

Miami in the news

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The guardian has an article on Miami and some post-ArtBasel reflections. It, of course, refers to Miami has ‘the city that coke built’–a Miami New times reference. The article focuses on Miami as a host city for culture. At CIFO, Manny Diaz said that was one of his goals. Well, here some international press confirming it.

This is a similar article; the noteworthy parts being, Robert Rauschenberg and Alain Robbe-Grillet was in town, Raleigh Hotel parties and a quote:

There were many events outside the Convention Centre. The most moving work I saw was at Miami Art Central, a museum set among Spanish-style bungalows in the suburbs. Here they were showing William Kentridge, a South African artist who does brilliant charcoal drawings that he works into disturbing films. I thought that these genuinely caught some of the horror and pain of the late 20th century.

We’re back.

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Thanks FP&L. Anyone else who doesn’t have power, drop us a word and we’ll try to help. We probably will not climb electric poles to connect your house or block back on the grid. But we will give you some support otherwise–shower, water, internet, etc…
Only about 10% of Miami-Dade is left without power. Same thing happened to us after Katrina; we got our power back as part of the last 10%. Anyway, it won’t be long until the two or three of you left get your power.
I haven’t been on top of all things currently going on in the world. Though, we have been abreast on some past events, like Carl Andre & Ana Mendiata and the ever heroic, Richard Feigen.

a stage for one

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I was really moved when I first saw Gean Moreno‘s Black Zodiac, currently at The Moore Space ,as part as, of Hanging by a Thread. I did not noticed the piece during the night of the opening. It must have been because the place was packed and many gallery-goers used the piece as an impromptu bench. I will talk more about hanging by Thread in my next post.

Black Zodiac struck me as an stage/altar piece dedicated to punk. The installation could function as a stage for one to play a very dark, gritty, and underground–that is un-pop, brand of music. And simultaneously, it exists as a quiet (aurally) altar, installed in a basement or garage, inexhibiting the renmants and fetishes of an era.

Black Zodiac by Gean Moreno at The Moore Space

Black Zodiac by Gean Moreno at The Moore Space

Black Zodiac by Gean Moreno at The Moore Space

I can’t resist to say that I want this installation to be a less clean and be lit diffirently and to smell of beer and sweat.

Castles in the sky

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Vicenta Casañ - Castillos en el aire

A couple of weeks ago, Vicenta Casañ‘s exhibition of photographs “Castillos en el Aire” opened at Diana Lowenstein Fine Arts.

Vicenta Casañ - Castillos en el aire

Vicenta Casañ - Castillos en el aire

Vicenta Casañ - Castillos en el aire

I enjoyed the premise of this exhibition, at least what I have deduced. I like the fact that Vicenta Casañ makes works about where she lives. In earlier works, she vested an interest in the study of her environment. There is a critique of Miami real estate development in these works, but I perceive a stronger poetic statement in her search for beauty in the image of Miami and her selective portrayal of this town.

Katrina

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We lost power Thursday, around 4:30pm, a couple of hours before Hurricane Katrina made landfall near the Miami-Dade – Broward county line. Someone needs to take FPL to task on this point. This pre-hurricane power failure issue was a bit lame. It’s definitely an argument for putting some power line underground.
Katrina, a catergory 1 hurricane, came, past and left us in the dark. We were underprepared, as were the rest of the city. Many trees toppled, around here, mainly Banyan (ficus). We fared well; we had the generosity of friends and family.
Katrina did go on to become a Category 5 hurricane. And places North of the Gulf of Mexico, like New Orleans, Biloxi and Gulf Port didn’t fare as well. They are going through devastation, from wind and flood, that renders our inconvenience to the degree of insignificance. As I write, NPR reports bad news to terrible news of tragedy and utter pain–no food, no drinkable water, no power, many people are missing, many of the dead are clearly visible and are on the street, looting in New Orleans, a little girl raped. It is crazy, scary and a bit unbearable. Martial law (state of emergency) has been declared. There is a real need out there. So I urge all to be a little bit less self-involved and help, anyway that you can.