A New Mainland
YoungArts Week 2014 unites an artistic Miami


Photos by Manny Hernandez
Words by Aaron Glickman
Debbie Allen in a stained glass jewel box choreographing a new generation of young talent;
Rosie Perez educating high school actors on the tricks of the trade;
Rita Moreno, ageless at 83, sitting center stage with the Kennedy Center’s Michael Kaiser, telling stories from the Golden Age of cinema – stories of racial imbalance, stories of trial by fire, stories of triumph;
A late night jazz combo featuring guest artist Nicole Yarling in a Frank Gehry designed, 7th floor salon that hosted Wynton Marsalis just three weeks prior.
“It’s pure in its mission,” said a YoungArts patron as she overlooked the photography exhibition in the newly designed, two story gallery space on the YoungArts campus.
Another patron answered, “Yes, and its purity emanates from the top down.”
James Rosenquist, Zaha Hadid, Shelly Berg and a host of other “masters” mentoring eager and idealistic high school artists who are flown in from cities near and far, small and large, to experience a magical week of creative enlightenment that they will covet like badges of honor affirming their talent and justifying their belief that they are indeed artists.

This was YoungArts Week 2014.
In what used to be the Bacardi Building, the new YoungArts Campus is poised to become a defining element of arts education in America; and what the New World Center has done for Miami Beach, the YoungArts campus will do for the Biscayne Corridor.
The Saturday Night gala was an expression of this potential as stars from stage and screen, art and design, writing and dance converged with the social stars of Miami in a massive transitory structure erected on the YoungArts campus to celebrate an evolution more than 30 years in the making and a future as bright as the full moon over a glistening Biscayne Bay.
And following a riveting performance featuring YoungArts alumni, the gala crowd joined the ongoing after party on the campus’ plaza to create an eclectic mix that represents a new mainland Miami – a Miami that has come so very far, and yet still has so much further to go.
Debbie Allen Master Class at the Jewel Box at the YoungArts Campus
Constance Margulies, James Rosenquist, Mimi Thompson and Martin Margulies at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Paul Lehr and Emilio Estefan at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Sarah Arison at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Legendary artist James Rosenquist leaving after his Master Class at the YoungArts Campus
Charlie Cinnamon, Stephanie Ansin, Toby Ansin and Sandy Evans at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Tui Pranich and Adrienne Arsht at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Sam Robin and Iran Issa Khan at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Michele Oka Doner and Darlene Perez at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Rosie Perez YoungArts Master Class at the Marriot Biscayne Bay
Alan and Diane Lieberman with Howard Herring and Irene Hegedus at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Carolyn Travis, Martin Rosenblum and Linda Schejoln at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Jon and Nancy Batchelor at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Adrienne bon Haes and Marvin Ross Friedman at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Rita Moreno and Rosie Perez all smiles at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Andrew Rannells receives the Alumni award
Javon Jackson and Harolyn Blackwell at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Bill T. Jones at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Robert Barlick and Ana-Marie Codina Barlick at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Jeannine Lehr with daughter and Lisa Leone at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
John and Lynne Richard at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Kelly Castle performs at YoungArts Backyard Ball
Carl & Toni Randolph at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Alexander Mijares and Felicia Marquez at the YoungArts After Hours Plaza Party
Ana Viyella and Natalia Useche at the YoungArts After Hours Plaza Party
Rudy and Betsy Perez at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Andrew Rannells with student after his talk at YoungArts 2014
Gregory & Iliana Irizarry at the YoungArts Backyard Ball
Carla Scemama with daughter and Design Finalist Elisa Scemama at the YoungArts After Hours Plaza Party
Britanny Lopez, Michael Margulies, Erin Newberg at the YoungArts After Hours Plaza Party
Stephanie Zilo and Molly Stubstad at the YoungArts After Hours Plaza Party

Manny Hernandez has been covering Miami’s social, lifestyle and art scenes for more than 30 years. Manny was born and raised in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood and is a proud alumnus of Miami-Dade College and Florida International University. His contributions are showcased weekly in The Miami Herald, Ocean Drive and Indulge magazines and his popular and much anticipated photo gallery, SOCIAL Manny, on SocialMiami.com. His images have also appeared in countless publications, including: Paper Magazine, Vanity Fair, People, Vogue and Rolling Stone.
In 2018, Manny was honored as one of the 12 Good Men by the Ronald McDonald House Charities and co-produced along with Broadway producer Richard Jay-Alexander, an exhibit in honor of famed press agent Charlie Cinnamon at the FIU Jewish Museum.
Manny recently authored his first book, CANDIDS Miami (Wynwood Books).