Artistically Social
Amy Rosenberg's October Arts Recap
Amy Rosenberg is an attorney and arts and environmental advocate who founded the Arsht Center’s young patrons group and is the co-founder of the environmental non-profit organization Dream in Green. Amy is a member of Art Basel’s Junior Host Committee and sits on the boards of LegalArt, the Funding Arts Network, New World Symphony’s executive committee and the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
October had its share of artistic, intellectual and gustatory pleasures.
Bernard-Henri Levi, the iconic French intellectual and author kicked off the month with a reading from his new book, Left in Dark Times, at Books and Books. With his usual savoir faire, his shirt unbuttoned to his sternum and his own brand of Gallic humor, Levi addressed a mostly female audience and shared bon mots about politics.
Gala season is officially in full swing and the City’s best and brightest pulled out their Armani and Van Cleef jewels for one of the premier events of the season, the Arsht Center’s Take Center Stage 2008: Coming Up Roses Gala and Afterparty. Guests were treated to an artistic feast for their senses and palates courtesy of the Miami City Ballet and Florida Grand Opera. Afterparty guests kicked up their heels to music from the 80s. Attendees included Adrienne Arsht, Senator Bill Nelson and former Miami Beach Mayor, Neisin Kasdin.
During Second Saturday in Wynwood, art-onlookers had the opportunity to see Schadenfreude, an exhibition in the Collins Building curated by local artist Daniel Newman. Mad Magazine’s critically acclaimed cartoonist Al Jaffee made a rare gallery appearance with six beautiful ink drawings. Miami’s own Dino Felipe premiered XXII, a 40 minute soundscape that blasted from the oversized speakers. The site doubled as a film set for Aidan Dillard’s Death Print, a psychological thriller about excessive vulgarities in the art world.
Hernan Bas’s long-awaited show at Fred Snitzer also opened on Second Saturday. Bas, an art world favorite, seduces the viewer with his dreamy brushstrokes and highly evocative renderings of boys in scenes that are fraught with danger, mystery and intrigue.
MAM employees finally got their artistic due at the Miami Art Museum Staff Exhibit. Craig Robbins donated the space so that grant writers, docents and curators by day could showcase their art. Pamela Palma’s vividly hued bowl of fibers delighted viewers.
New World Symphony’s Symphony Rocks took place at the Arsht Center and was followed by an unforgettable post-concert bash at the Gibson Miami Showroom in the Design District. The exclusive members-only afterparty featured Locos por Juana, a “Latin urban orchestra”, onsite art by LeBo and Leblon signature cocktails.
MoCA’s signature event, Mystery Dates, drew a crowd of Miami art luminaries. Mystery Dates features intimate dinner parties at some of Miami’s most glamorous homes. The evening begins with a festive reception with cocktails, music and arts at MoCA at Goldman Warehouse, where guests learn the surprise locations of their Mystery Dinner dates. In attendance: MTV’s Mario Cader-Frech, Alberto Chehebar and artist Carlos Betancourt.
Gen Art inaugurated its music event, REVERB, at Vagabond and presented Miami’s hipsters with four hours of explosive sound featuring the likes of Mouse Fire, The Dark Romantics and hometown fave, DJ Lolo.
The sublime Joshua Redman Trio graced the 25th Annual Festival Miami stage. Redman, a tenor saxophone player, postponed Yale Law School in 1991 to pursue a musical career. Redman, his drummer and bassist wowed the packed audience with technical brilliance and ingenious takes on jazz standards as well as Redman’s own compositions.
The clinking of glasses could be heard at noon during the Seventh Annual Miami International Wine Festival. Industry insiders, oenophiles and the thirsty masses descended on the Miami Beach Convention Center to sample some of the twelve hundred wines featured from more than 15 countries. Attendees sampled 300 year old Grand Marnier, Rieslings, a sherry called Dry Sack and lip puckeringly good margarita popsicles. Smart guests indulged in cheesy arepas from El Rancho Grande and spinach and potato samosas from Anokha before heading back to the parking lot.
The Funding Arts Network luncheon at Northern Trust Bank featured a panel on “Tomorrow’s Artists and Arts Aficionados: Education First.” Moderator Nancy Ancrum questioned the panel, including Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs Director Michael Spring on the state of the arts in Miami.
This columnist was also told of a recent incident at Locust Projects in which one of artist Clifton Childree’s mannequins was allegedly shot at by a City of Miami Police Department officer. According to Director Claire Breukel, the incident occurred at around 11 p.m. when the alarm sounded at the space and police responded to the call. Once inside, police were confronted with Childree’s amusement park installation replete with — no pun intended — a shooting gallery. Ask to see the art casualty next time you’re in Wynwood.
Until next time…
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.
