Amy Rosenberg is an attorney and arts advocate who founded the Overtown Music Project and the Arsht Center’s young patrons group. She is the co-founder of the environmental non-profit Dream in Green. Amy is a member of Art Basel’s Junior Host Committee and sits on the Board of the Funding Arts Network. She also serves on the New World Symphony’s Friends Committee as well as The Wolfsonian-FIU’s Visionaries Committee.
After my cultural engine has been revved by a weeklong smorgasbord of blue chip art, dazzling people, fascinating conversations and dizzying and dazzling parties, I’m sapped and a little sad. I have conversations with friends that sound more like group therapy. “Don’t worry,” my friends say, “Art Basel Miami Beach will be back in another 365 days. You could use the rest.”
True enough. One of the most exciting, delirious and illuminating experiences of the year has ended, but Miami has a lot to offer the rest of the year as well.
NWS Grand Opening Gala Chairs, Edward
Shumsky and Susan Kronick My flagging spirits were raised by my tour of the not-yet-open to the public New World Symphony hall with its wonderful President and CEO, Howard Herring. To the uninitiated, New World Symphony is an orchestral academy that provides fellowships to top graduating musicians. Michael Tilson Thomas, the Founder and Artistic Director, is an internationally renowned conductor who created NWS to function as a laboratory for musical education and expression. Musicians get the creative space to really develop their art. They shake up the repertory and don’t retreat from the avant garde or the experimental.
The tour started in the lobby with art collector, fly fisherwoman and all around renaissance gal, Jeri Waxenberg Wolfson, the adorably pragmatic Franco Carretti, owner of ABC Costume Shop (and former costume designer for Spaghetti Western director Sergio Leone) and brilliant real estate attorney, Mark Alhadeff, who helped NWS navigate legal issues during their construction process.
Nathalie Cadet-James, Stacey Glassman,
Amy Rosenberg and Rebecca Mandelman The Frank Gehry designed building has rooms that are stacked like blocks. Mr. Gehry’s end product hews to Mr. Thomas’ vision of the building as a campus, with special emphasis on accessibility. Most of the rooms are made transparent with glass walls and many concerts will be projected on the exterior of the building. Viewers will be able to watch concerts from the brand new park outside of the building. (Note to self: start downloading picnic recipes.)
My interest in New World Symphony was further piqued at a pre gala event at attorney Gene Stearns’s sprawling Key Biscayne home. Two musicians played the piano simultaneously and the enraptured audience ooh’ed and aww’ed. I was honored to be in the company of West Point Graduate and attorney Carlos Canino, the lovely Diane Sepler and positively magnetic couple Susan Kronick and Edward Manno Shumsky, Gala Chairs for the big soiree at the end of January. (Limited tickets are still available.)
In other artistic happenings, the brilliantly executed South Beach Babylon made its debut at the Arsht Center. The play was both the world premiere as well as the launch of the Zoetic Stage Company, a troupe co-founded by South Beach Babylon’s playwright Michael McKeever. I sat rapt as the play explored issues brought on by Art Basel (sniffle and sigh, see above). I can’t wait to see what else comes out of this new company.
Gene and Diana Stearns
Though I love my Kindle, I’m not prepared to see the book shelf, or the library, go the way of the dinosaur. During the holiday rush, I did most of my shopping at Taschen. The breadth and depth of their titles blow me away. I only wish I had waited to buy my gifts during their end-of – January warehouse sale. Maybe I’ll see you there?
Amy Rosenberg is an attorney and arts advocate who founded the Overtown Music Project and the Arsht Center’s young patrons group. She is the co-founder of the environmental non-profit Dream in Green. Amy is a member of Art Basel’s Junior Host Committee and sits on the Board of the Funding Arts Network. She also serves on the New World Symphony’s Friends Committee as well as The Wolfsonian-FIU’s Visionaries Committee.
