Miami Nights

Ah, the Miami New Times, an alternative weekly to some, a vile sex-for-hire listing to others. No publication in South Florida is as polarizing as the New Times (come on, it's universally understood the Miami Herald sucks). I for one adore the New Times because it dares to publish stories that brings down those in Miami would think they are untouchable. Just in the last few years alone Miami-Dade Public Schools superintendent Rudy Crew, county commissioner Art Teele and Miami police chief John Timoney have all been exposed as frauds by the New Times staff. Save for the Herald's House of Lies report, the New Times recently has done more for Miami than we could ever truly know.

And what better way to say job well done then by throwing a party. The New Times wants to celebrate with all of Miami with Artopia 08, the 20th anniversary bash Saturday, January 19, at Parkwest. The Spam All-Stars, ANR, Raffa & Rainer, Circ X and Animate Objects Physical Theater will be doing live performances, while DJ Hottpants and the Deuce Crew will be on the turntables. There will be live art, short films and fashion shows as well.

Yep, all this for $15, if you buy your ticket in advance, or $20 at the door. Yes, there will be free booze, Belvedere to be exact, from 9 to 11 p.m.

I know, I should have written something on Sunday or may yesterday. But you can't imagine how draining Art Basel was, and I barely scratched the surface of everything there was to see. I never made it to any of the fairs (which I sorely regret, but I just never had the time), so I stuck mostly to parties and the 2nd Saturday Art Walk. My Basel week sucked. Wednesday I fell asleep on my couch at 10 p.m. Thursday I was swamped with work. Friday I was suppose to have off in order to make my way to the beach but I was so busy with work I couldn't leave my office. Saturday I was hungover from Friday night so I didn't make it out of my house until all the fairs had closed. Sunday I had given up any hope that I was going to do anything Basel related. And trust me, it wasn't like I didn't try. I had RSVP'd to every party, exhibition and whatnot imaginable, so it wasn't a matter of me not being able to gain access. No, it was just an unlucky streak.

On the bright side, the things I did see on Saturday night in Wynwood and Design District definitely showed me the the Basel effect had made everyone step up their game. The work in Wynwood was outstanding, particularly in the EDGE Zones Fair (one of the few satellite fairs still open past 6 p.m.). I also stumble upon a ad-hoc fair organized at Wynwood Lofts that was less about making a statement than it was about making decorative art (in other words, boring). I would ramble about the things I saw, but I went into so many galleries, I could write an entire novel about all the things I saw.

I ended my Saturday night at the Green Space Gallery near the Design District. Let me go on the record by saying I rarely like performance art. I guess it because at times I find it too pretentious and aware that it's being watched by people. Well the Green Space definitely reinforced that notion. The performance were -- how do I say this nicely? -- anti-climactic.

So in my very own anti-climax -- bye!

 

 

As early as Tuesday afternoon, the second ArtMiami opened their doors to the VIP card holding elite, Wynwood has been breathing heavy & blushing in the face of the influx of the art going public. Tuesday's vernissage was slammed and theres been little to no parking as the other fairs came to their blossoming. Many galleries, adjacent to a fair knew to keep their doors wide open (the smart ones, at least) attracting the fair goers throughout the day. Our art district hasn't had a second to sleep (me included) with the exhausting amount of activity at hand. The herald even flat out stated, "YOU WILL NOT SEE EVERYTHING". A harsh but funny truth. Its crazy to me, when i step back and realize the only thing actually affilited with Basel is the convention center exhibit, containers and design miami. Everything else are the ripples caused by ABMB being dropped into the puddle that is Miami.

A plethora of walls all over the 20 block span of our art district have dressed up with bright murals, screaming for attention. Interestingly Spinello Gallery is actually responsible for about 10+ beautiful walls from 24-22 st on and east of nw 2 ave. The director Anthony Spinello, explained to me of this "Curated Mural Exhibition" Hand picking local/international muralists to be apart of this clever project, giving the walls regard as pieces in an exhibit, not unlike any show of art objects in the hundreds of indoor venues. Bravo, Spinello. 

 

In my blurry hazy mix of installing and general gallery odd jobery, ive been lucky to catch wind of these straight up random Parties and openings, Emanuel Perrotin's Tuesday night dinner party/ opening reception, photo miami's Tuesday private preview, Vicaya's insane Miami contemporary artists ( I guess) book/exhibition gala, Fred Snitzer's 30 yr anniversary even the loft galleries (23rd st & nw 2 ave) roof party. This action is reaching towards chaos and I'm loving/being killed by it. theres no way to really report/promote any of it, some things you just hear about and have to bounce over immediately. Shit, we were looking for Fred's party last night and just heard the bass and saw the cars parked on 23rd and found an open door and ran up to the roof. These things are every were, just keep an eye out and you're ears handy, people.

All this damn week Wynwood has been on fire, before their respective night (second saturdays) no less, Which actually happens to be TONIGHT (12/8/07) so you can be sure the area will be blown to pieces with happenings. Theres way to much to even know where to start making recommendations, so I won't. What I did do, though, was lose a few nights of sleep and design maps of the area from the gound up.All the venues minus the temporary spots that just appear seemingly out of thin air are included.They are Magenta, black and white with bold san-serif fonts just like Lackner invented (!)  

here is a thumb:

 

a high res view can be found in extended by following the link below. The maps are all over town too.

 

 

Click here to read full article..

Dammit, my Art Basel curse continues as I couldn't make it out last night because of work. I'm scrambling to finish it today so I have my weekend free. I really wanted to go to Basel today but that definitely isn't going to happen. So let me cry my sorrows away as I tell you what to do tonight.

Sweat Records presents Pink Candy Disko tonight at Studio A. The party will feature live performances by Ariel Pink, Dino Felipe and Awesome New Republic. However the most exciting act is probably Glass Candy, an up-and-coming act from the Italians Do It Better label that seems to be the new "it" band with bloggers. The Deuce Crew as well will be on hand to keep you dancing.

The Italians Do It Better label will also be holding it down at PS14 where label founder Mike Simonetti will be spinning is italo-disco all night long along with resident DJs Matt Cash and Plot. You can get in free if you have a wristband from the Pink Candy Disko event, otherwise it will only cost you $5.

The lovely New York scene-stress and fashionista Roxy Cottontail was here last month partying it up in PS14. Tonight she goes for the upgrade when she will be at Cameo, when the venue jumps on the hipster bandwagon, even if it is for just a night. If you haven't heard, Miami's very own Jake Jefferson (Money Shot, Poplife) produced her new track "Kate Moss", so give it a listen. I presume she'll be performing live, but the flier is unclear. For all those who aren't fans of bed-hair and skinny jeans, fret not, DJ Irie will be there to keeping things Top 40.

At Circa28, Miami legends the Spam All-Stars will be performing live along with Afrobeta, Elastic Bond and Jay Meletiche.

Tonight is also Gen Art's Vanguard official party at the Palm Court, 309 23rd St., Miami Beach. Tickets are $20 at the door, but Gen Art events always have free drinks so it's probably worth it. Oh and there's art of course by artists such as Alex Gross, Dennis Hayes IV, Johnny Robles, Kathie Olivas and more. Local artist Lebo will also be doing a solo exhibition showcasing all new works, so check it out.

Zune hosts tonight photographer Jeremy Kost at Rokbar from 8 to 10 p.m. Afterwards. Purple & Wow Magazine will take over hosting duties with DJs Olympia Le Tan, Paul Sevigny, Stunners International, Leo Fitzpatrick and Lissy Trullie.

Official Art Basel event Concrete Waves continues tonight with DJ Tanton from 6 to 11 p.m. on Collins Park Beach between 21st and 22nd Streets.

And if you are looking to do something more intellectual free tickets are available at Art Basel information desks for the Art Loves Architecture event happening tonight from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at the Colony Theater. The evening will honor Herzog & de Meuron Architects (designers of the new MAM building).

Tonight I will be at the MSTRKRFT event at Pawn Shop which B.A.C. posted about already. I can't wait to get out and do something for a change! Anyway, feel free to comment about any events I might have missed.

So my Art Basel week started out a bust. No, I didn't encounter any crappy artwork -- I wish I had seen any art. Yea, I fell asleep on my couch while switching back between reruns of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Project Runway. If you must know, I'm rooting for Elisa because I have a soft spot for clinically insane people. Anyway, tonight I promise I will go out and do some actually coverage -- wait I think there is a new episode of 30 Rock, so maybe after that. But I won't fall asleep this time, I swear. So gear up, because these are the things to do tonight!

SCOPE Miami Art Fair's opening party is going down tonight at Opium Garden. B.A.C. and myself went last year when they held it right at Roberto Clemente Park and all I've got to say that it was awesome. So I have high expectations this year and hope not to be disappointed. Ray Milian (Off the Radar), DJ Busquelo and Candela All-Stars will provide the soundtrack, while Grey Groose and Grolsch provide the drinks.

Bronques (Last Nights Party) returns to Set after an exhaustive documentation of the debauchery that happens at the Black Lipstick party upstairs every Thursday which culminated into beautifully shot ads for the Opium Group. So get on it and bring out your inner whore for Bronques. His first Art Basel set so far has some bush and a skank. Come on Miami, I know you can do better than that.

Missed Daedelus last night at White Room? Head over to the Upper Eastside Garden, 7244 Biscayne Blvd., where for $10 you can drink until your heart's content courtsey of Generators, WVUM, Dublab, WPS1.org Art Radio. Also along for the ride is High Places, Matt Cash (Loop, Poplife) and Plot.

Wandering around Wynwood? Stop by Circa28 where Mark Leventhal will keep the best area venue thumping until the wee hours.

Right across from Lackner's crack den is the Aquabooty Warehouse, 74 NE 17th St., (which I found myself at once at 6 a.m., long story), and it where the Aquabooty boys will be hosting There Once Was an Octopus from Nantucket... art installations by BASK and Sarah Gail Hutcherson. Opening reception is tonight from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Supermarket Creative and Gorillas bring you the Seyhoun Art Gallery's 10 Cane cocktail reception at Power Studios, 3701 NE 2nd Ave., Design District. The Ruff Club Kids and Johnny the Boy will be spinning during the event which goes from 7 to 11 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres by Bond St. Artists exhibiting include Mostafa Darehbaghi, Hessam Abrishami, Goli Mahalatti, Mohsen Khalili and Ramin Haerizadeh.

Also, tonight Concrete Waves continues at Collins Park Beach, between 21st and 22nd Streets with DJ Keen One and open air cinema and WPS1.org Art Radio broadcasts. This official Art Basel event is open to the public.

And if you must sneak into an Basel event tonight, try to get into the VIP-only Russia Miami 2007, an exhibit of contemporary Russian culture at the Collins Building, 139 NE 39 St., Design District. It will be open to the public the following day, but it's more fun crashing the opening night, no?

Again, feel free to post any other events in the comments that I may have left out! Do it to it people! 

Rich people are complaining the prices of artwork at Art Basel are too high. Wow. Really? Who would have thought it? Do I have to remind people Art Basel isn't the poster bin at your local Wal-Mart? Do rich people even know what a Wal-Mart is? Not that I've ever been to one -- you don't know me! Leave it to the Chinese artists to have some of the most affordable artwork on sale the fair. Although, I'd advise buyers to make sure the piece doesn't contain lead or some substance similiar to GHB.

If you haven't gone yet, check out Critical Miami which managed to gain access into the Vernissage last night for a glimpse.

I know, you are going to hate me by the end of the week. Alas, but I'll be gone back into blogosphere oblivion by Sunday so bear with me.

The Miami Herald did a small profile on my favorite local artists FriendsWithYou, art duo Sam Borkson and Arturo Sandoval Jr. Their work easily brings out your inner child and reminds you to just have fun, something we all seem to forget. It's easy to dismiss their work as commercial design, and it is, but its warm and inviting and that's why I feel its so easy to connect with their pieces. Their Skywalkers event last year during Basel was easily one of the biggest highlights of the week. The Herald has choosen the duo, Rainbow Bright (pictured left) as today's Art in Newsprint feature. If it has you feeling all tingly inside, you can bid on a signed copy to benefit the Herald's Wish Book Charities.

For now I'll leave you with a short documentary on last year's Skywalker event:

Stuff has been going on already, some of the satellite fair are up and running, champagne has been poppin' at parties and the world's art elite has descended upon the Magic City. What have I done so far? Diddily squat! Alas, today I start what should be an endless week of schmoozing and rubbing elbows (gross) with a who's who of artists, collectors, gallery owners and so forth. So let's get this shit started and here are the places I think are worth a visit tonight:

Art Positions and Concrete Waves opens tonight at Collins Beach Park between 21st and 22nd Streets. Art Loves Music kicks off the festivities with a free concert by Iggy and the Stooges. I keep my mouth shut about the Stooges since last time I said something negative, it brought out the Cuban exile in everyone. Yea, no one is allowed to have an opinion in this city. And yes, this is an official Art Basel sponsored event.

Downtown's (well, Overtown really) newest venue White Room hosts DJ Language and Daedelus. The event, sponsored by Poplife and WVUM 90.5 will feature a pre-screening of the film Fox Home Entertainment's Once, winner of this year's Sundance Festival Audience Award. Stop by an check out the film in its entirety, as patrons get the chance to win free DVDs and promotional material.

Starting today at the newest location of Adidas' Y-3 store, 150 NE 40th St., Design District, you can view a large outdoor video installation featuring the works of John Baldessari, Phyllis Baldino, Michael Bell-Smith, Dan Graham, Ursula Hodel, Joan Jonas, Shigeko Kubota, Takeshi Murata, Lawrence Weiner, and others. The display will run of the store's second floor balcony on an LED video wall from noon to 11 p.m. Cocktail reception will be held on Saturday from 8 to 10 p.m.

A reception for the Avant Gallery, 1680 Michigan Ave., Miami Beach, will take place tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. The opening exhibit is called The Luxe Life featuring works by Piero Fornasetti, Arik Levy, Alessandro Mendini, Verner Panton, Gaetano Pesce, Karim Rashid, Mimmo Rotella and Marcel Wanders.

After trekking through the various openings in Wynwood stop by Circa28 where ArtOfficial will be playing live and kicking off the venue's daily line-up of live acts and DJs stopping making Circa28 the unofficial Wynwood hangout during Art Basel.

Back at the beach, Zing Magazine holds it down at Rokbar with DJs Olympia Le Tan, Ben Brunnermer, Spencer Sweeney and Monzieur Moru. Rokbar's door staff can be... well a bitch, but persistence pays off here. Trusts.

Oh and for those lucky few Vernissage Art Basel Miami Beach is tonight as well. Only way you are getting in is if you are VIP or press (unfortunately they don't qualify MiamiNight's as press).

Feel free to comment if you know of anything else going on tonight as well! 

I feel like I've been slacking. I really wanted to have this whole list of parties to go to but I had some sort of 24-hour bug yesterday. I think I'm better today and all I was hoping that it wasn't a repeat of WMC this year when I had strep throat throughout the whole week. Anyway, here are some quick links of things you should definitely check out if you want to get the Art Basel scoop:

• Critical Miami has a great post on all the Basel links your little heart could desire. So click away!
• Plum Miami Beach easily has some of the best coverage so far of the event. Nice guides and videos to boot. Browse through the whole site, you won't be disappointed.
• The New York Times has a quick run through of some of the (best) satellite fairs going on at the same time as Basel.
• Finally, the Miami Herald has a whole section devoted to Basel, but as you know as always with the Herald the delivery of the information always leaves something to be desired. But second to Plum, Herald has a lot of information to go through, so there ought to be a gem or two in there somewhere.

Well, I'll be back later today with another update on the parties tonight that you MUST check out. I leave you with a video from Plum MB on my favorite collection in Miami, the Margulies Collection at the Warehouse. Definitely check it out either during or after Basel, there are plenty of great pieces to be seen:

Let's face it Art Basel is as much about art as WMC is about the actual conference. Yea art gets sold and looked at, but really 99 percent of the people who show up are looking for free booze and waiting for their drug dealer to arrive to score coke. Alas, its warm embrace by Miami has catapulted the event into mainstream success, making it just another reason to go out and celebrate (not that Miami really needs an excuse). Art Basel to me has become part of the winter party trifecta which consists of Art Basel, New Year's Eve and Winter Music Conference. By the end of March, Miami feels like a used and abused slut that needs to cool it down before she ends up on Maury not knowing which one of her hookups is her baby's daddy.

But fuck it, I can't complain. I love that fact that Art Basel is basically becoming a mini-conference. It's become a time when big name DJs and artists (of the musical kind) make their way down to take part in celebrating -- well, I'm not sure what, but I bet it has to do with art. Yea, art. MSTRKRFT, the Ruff Club Kids, Princess Superstar, Moby, Busta Rhymes and Samantha Ronson are just a few of the recognizable names venturing into town to keep the party machine going through the weekend.

Nobody admits the absurdity of "Art Basel" better than Aquabooty, whose annual F*ck Art/Let's Dance party doesn't try fooling anyone into thinking it is anything more than just another excuse to get drunk and dance. Other promoters and clubs think by inviting some performing artists, photographers and novice painters to the venues it will legitimize their event from normal club night to art-house-dance-party. Guess what? It doesn't. Just admit it, no one is going to point and laugh. Okay, maybe I will, for a bit. But after my laughter has subsided I'll hold you against bosom and tell you everything will be alright.

But in the end, one could argue Art Basel never has been about art. It is in fact a marketplace where goods are bought and sold. So after spending six figures on a piece of artwork, who wouldn't want to blow $10,000 at one of Miami's mega-clubs? And why shouldn't clubs and promoters take advantage of that?

Stay tuned, tomorrow I will have a special comprehensive guide to all of the Art Basel parties going down this weekend. So if you haven't already, e-mail miaminightsblog@gmail.com to make sure your party is listed. 

Remember how I said yesterday that just because a place said it was an event for Art Basel, that it technically doesn't mean it's actually part of the real Art Basel? Well, this is what I like to call the parasites that use Art Basel as a host in order to lure big money buyers to their fairs. Now, before you get all lynch mob on me for calling the satellite fair parasites, I'll be the first to admit I love that they exists. In fact, SCOPE's fair, in my opinion, overshadowed Art Basel last year. Damn, those talking Kohler bathrooms telling me it knew I liked the scent of oranges freaked me out!

Yes, I encourage you, nay, demand, you visit the satellite fairs, most of which are homesteading in Wynwood. SCOPE and Art Miami are setting up enormous white tents to house all the galleries. SCOPE again will claim Roberto Clement Park, 101 NW 34th St., as their turf and is exhibiting a wide variety of galleries from all corners of the globe. Art Miami originally took place in January at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and often considered the rebel fair for daring to take place outside the scope of Basel weekend. Well this year it seems that some reason was knocked into the organizers' heads because they are now hoping to capitalize on Basel's lure of buyers and are raising a 100,000-square-foot tent on NW 2nd Avenue between 22nd and 23rd Streets. I didn't go to Art Miami last year, but I heard it wasn't that impressive, but I imagine now as a satellite fair, they will be able to secure much more prominent galleries.

Really, I could go on forever about fairs going on next weekend, but then Lackner would give me 40 lashes as if I named a teddy bear Mohammed. So after the jump there are links to some of the more popular satellite fairs, all Art Basel-approved through the public program on its Web site.

Click here to read full article..

Yea, I'm only doing special correspondence for Art Basel, but I suppose this news is art related and it's a pretty big deal. Miami Art Museum finally unveiled its design by the Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron (coincidentally, they are headquartered in Basel, Switzerland). The are responsible for the De Young Museum in San Fransisco, the Tate Modern in London and the Beijing National Stadium currently being constructed for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

It was said they'd be unveiling the design during Art Basel, so the news came as a bit of a surprise to me. The Miami Herald notes many famous architects have designed buildings for Miami, but they always seem to fall flat when compared to their previous work in other cities (best example being the Carnival Center). Well no one is going to complain about the Herzog & de Meuron design being boring. Very reminiscent in a way of their other Miami-based project, the 1111 Lincoln Road building, the building will literally look like its being held up by air. The Swiss firm seems to have done their research, taking inspiration from Stiltsville. I really hope nothing gets in the way of this building actually coming to fruition (and let's hope that Bay of Pigs museum idea isn't built next door to it). All the money has been raised, now it's just a matter of breaking ground.

I also have to applaud museum director Terrance Riley for giving the firm these simple instructions for coming up with a great design:

"We said, `Don't worry about the icon business. Do a great museum.' If it's a great museum, it may become an icon.''

I have have a feeling it will. Now all that Riley has to do is amass an amazing collection to hang up in an amazing building.

Art Basel is officially a week away! And I will be posting nifty little guides and tidbits until then. After that, the plan is for me to reek havoc among Miami's art community by reviewing everything I manage to see. I'll probably do some live blogging through my Blackberry if I'm sober enough. Hey, I can't make any promises. The lure of open bars and free champagne might just be too much for me to handle.

Here is my first warning. Just because an event has the words "Art" and "Basel" in it, doesn't mean it associated with the actual Art Basel event. I know, I just rocked your world to the point that you no longer want to live. Reality is the actual Art Basel shows has many events open, including the opening concert Art Loves Music on Wednesday, December 5 with the relic punk rockers Iggy and The Stooges, which surprisingly includes four out of the five original band members, though I'm pretty sure bassist Dave Alexander would be there if he hadn't died back in '75. No offense to fans of the Stooges out there, but I was hoping for someone a bit more -- how do I say this? -- relevant. I mean Peaches was kick-ass last year, even if the outdoor conditions rendered her performance limp (although she did make it up when she performed at Mansion during WMC).

Click here to read full article..

I'm back bitches on special assignment for Miami Nights. Gasp! I know, I quit unceremoniously back in July, not giving much of a reason. But what was I supposed to do? Giving up the goodies on Biscayne Boulevard just to line Lackner's pockets was getting a little old -- and penicillin wasn't controlling the flare ups anymore. Anyway, I'm hard at work with my own projects that I was hoping would be done by the end of this year, however, it probably won't see the light of day until 2008. So what is a struggling writer to do when the biggest fall event is about to hit Miami? Come groveling back of course!

Yes kiddies, Duran is back, but not really. I will be doing special Art Basel coverage for the site. And if you remember my Art Basel posts last year, including my HI-larious Idiot's Guide to Art Basel, the only thing I love more than free booze and freshly powdered noses are pretentious art events. So watch out for tomorrow, when I will tell you the Art Basel must-dos and better-off-dead events for next week.

Rest assured, you shall be amused! 

Ernst Hass, a famous photographer from the 50s & 60s once said about the Polaroid cameras, "There is only you and your camera.  The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are." For the past few months I’ve been photographing friends, performers and local artists that make up the environment of Miami with my  Polaroid Camera (circa 1980s style) in hopes of collecting imagines for a future art show.  For some reason or another I’ve noticed that with a Polaroid Camera the limitations are even greater.  Because we live in such a digital world everyone expect things to be perfect and quick.  Ironically even though the film is instant it requires more set up than a digital imagine, more thought in its composition and more consideration in regards to lighting and movement.

Documentation isn’t a perfected art either.  I love documenting my surroundings.  When I was a freshmen at Massachusetts College of Art, I found a toy view camera that took 120 film at a thrift store and captured over 300 snap shots of my mishaps, loves/hates and every day parting just in that year.  Its in this documentation that focused my daily thoughts.  

To everyone who’s photo I’ve taken I’ll probably take it again until I have a perfect picture of you I like.  And to those I’ve not taken yet, don’t worry I will.  Polaroid’s are not cheap though.  Miami Nights is my first official sponsor helping to purchase the film for me......  And I’m gathering more sponsors everyday too.  The idea is I’m gonna collect imagines over this 2007-2008 season and have a showing/art party sometime after WMC. 

This Sunday I’ll be capturing some imagines per usual but more importantly for everyone in Miami that keeps looking over their shoulder asking, “What’s hot in indie dance music these days?”  I invite you come check out the Protokoll show at Buck 15 on the beach.  Plus the hard-drive on my computer is BUSTING with hot new music too that I can’t wait to play, Steed Lord, Designer Drugs, The Twelves, Scanner, Purple Crush, Plus Move, The Black Kids to name a few.  Not to mention Protokoll too.  I've included "Moving Foward" off there upcoming EP for your listening pleasure.   Its gonna be an Alternative Sunday over at Buck.  Come ready to dance.  And don’t forget to look cute.  I might take your photo!

Sleepless Night 

I cannot begin to express how perfect this event is for weirdos like me...AND YOU. i can't even hold back until a nearer date to post about it. Setting aside the fact that the website is flooded in 100%magenta, black and bold san serif fonts (kiss my ass, Lackner!) I am already thrilled to be attending this. A 13 hour event held within 4 key zones on north and south beach, at restaurants, theaters, pools outdoor concert halls, basketball courts, ballet studios sectioned off areas of the street and more. from 6pm until sometime next morning, meshed nicely with on going film festivals, Sleepless nights will be showcasing diverse cultural happenings simultaneously throughout the beach. There really isn't much that won't be done. The press release puts it best:

Sleepless Night is a collaboration of all the city’s major cultural institutions, theaters, galleries and arts organizations, along with hotels, shops, nightclubs, restaurants, and individual artists and presenters. As of June 2007, Sleepless Night is set to include major cultural institutions such as the Miami City Ballet, Miami International Film Festival, Jewish Museum of Florida, Miami Design Preservation League, Miami Light Project, Tigertail Productions, Bass Museum, Miami Beach Cinematheque, New World Symphony, and the Wolfsonian-FIU, among many other participants. With extended hours, specific menus and a plethora of cultural activities, Sleepless Night will be individually different for each participant depending on which itinerary they create for themselves. Events for children will be held during the earlier part of the night.

Every medium of cultural expression will be represented simultaneously during Sleepless Night. The diverse program includes indoor and outdoor arts exhibits and installations, performances, fashion shows, tours, dance, music, film, and other cultural offerings from around the world – all presented without admission charge. Free public transportation will connect the four major zones of activity – North Beach, Collins Park, Lincoln Road, and Ocean Drive. Live performances will take place on the buses so that participants will not a miss a moment of culture.

Almost like a fantsasy getaway for the casual insomniac. Or a perfect date oppurtunity starting with dinner and a movie then another movie, maybe some performance art, another movie, a free ride up to north beach for a concert, another movie & then the sun comes up. I will be sure to post updates as i get them since the site is still evolving while performances and venues are still being booked.

 

When was the last time you broke night?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

    Many openings to be had. The summer season hiatus is waning and many have flocked back to town. New faces in new Places and other exciteness about.

New to Wynwood this summer is Harold Golem gallery. Hopefully the pink banner I gave him is up and his space is easy to find. He will be inaugurating his gallery tonight with a spicy group show. Hopefully his place is here to stay. Be sure to welcome his new space with your face inside it.

 

Back round the chunky thickness that is 20-28 st Wynwood, the classic heavy hitters will be coming strong with the usual cloud of openings, those of interest being;

@ Fred Snitzer: False Start - A concise solo show by Timothy Buwalda has got some serious photorealism in your face.

@ David Castillo: Real Time - Featuring Nayef Homsi and Monika Zarzeczna new works by the artists in their respective rooms. (duo solo showness!)

@ Dorsch Gallery: What makes a boy start fires? (Kyle Trowbridge) aside Variations on a theme (Johnny Sanchez) another duo solo presenting paintings, projections, installation and   smelly exploded car(s) and me giving you grolsch if you get there early, so show up!

@ Moca (Goldman warehouse) : Karen Kilimnik of which I have no idea what the show is but I love the flyer.

@ AntiKulture : Lindas Pesadillas- A solo show of new paintings by Alvaro Perez del Solar, the second night of a two night opening reception/gallery camp out.

 Informative flyers in extended.

Click here to read full article..

The International Herald Tribune, which is like our Herald except with a usable website, has an interesting article about an obese dance troupe in Havana. They dance around all crazy, doing the emo-fat-girl version of the usual themes: love (and the accompanying rejection), social stigma, back-alley knife fights. Perhaps, for the purposes of contrast, rock and roll outcast and newly-thinspirational Courtney Love could make an appearance as a diabolical antagonist? I guess bicycle tires and chicken feathers are more fattening than the doctors told us.

Photo: Jose Goita/NYT 

For those who haven't heard yet, I've given up drinking. For now, I suppose. I'm trying to live a healthier lifestyle, and it's bad enough I go out almost every night of the week. Well my new found sobriety now allows me to wake up a decent hour. Hence why I am excited when events like Kraftworks gives me something to do to fill the void now that I no longer sleep until 2 p.m.

This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., everyone's favorite thrift/clothes exchange store Rag Trade Happy Clothing Co. is hosting Kraftworks, an open-air market featuring local artisans and craftspeople. Stephanie, owner of Rag Trade, informed me there will be airbrushing, Mongolian cluster painting (WTF?), a book exchange, a massage table, origami classes and more. You can also peruse around the store which is be having a "hot fire sale" according to Stephanie. And there will be music too, provided by DJs Lolo (Sweat Records/Circa Saturdays), Kentsoundz, Some Jerk, Madame Turk, Rachel Goodrich and Rabbit in the Hat.

And for those who don't know, Rag Trade is located in the Design District at 4600 NE 2nd Ave.

My friends are dicks. Every month I go through the same song-and-dance with them. They all say they want to do the Wynwood gallery walk and "mysteriously" mere hours before the event, they are longer interested. That's because if there isn't hard liquor involved, they aren't interested. I think it's time I get new friends who are interested in more cultural things.

Anyway, this Saturday I will be doing the walk, with or without them. I'm particularly pumped up for it after reading an article in today's Miami Herald regarding an exhibit titled Polymorph by Icelandic artist Magnus Arnason at Locust Projects. He does these grotesque sculptures that look like they came straight from an alien horror movie. What find refreshing from him, at least what I gather from the article, is that as an artist he doesn't seem to be so full of himself. I've met plenty of artist that think they are the next hot shit -- I find it hard not laugh in their face. You don't see me going around saying I'm the next Gabriel Garcia Marquez, even though I know I am (damn my ego).

People always tell me they keep away from the gallery walk because they feel intimidated because they tend to feel stupid when they don't "get it." There is nothing to get. Go out and enjoy yourself. Unless you vocally make it known that you have no idea what you are looking at, no one is going to know. If there has to be a 2nd Saturdays for beginners, I say stick to the the big four: Rubell Family Collection, CiFo, MOCA at Goldman Warehouse and Margulies Collection. They are a lot bigger than your average Wynwood gallery and the exhibitions tend to be more diverse and filled with "superstar" artists. Although, I highly encourage you to stop by any of the smaller galleries you see on the way. They tend to be hit or misses, but when you find that great gallery, you'll be throughly amused. My favorites tend to be the Dorsch Gallery, Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin and Fredric Snitzer Gallery. But explore, exhibits are always changing and it's a fun thing to do.

[image via the Miami Herald]