Showing posts with label wynwood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wynwood. Show all posts

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Wynwood Art Walk in May

Last night I was so happy to see that there still is a good crowd of people going to the Wynwood Art Walk this late in the season. Here are a few of the people I met...


Danilo Gonzalez is a multi-media artists who paints and creates sculptures in his studio in the back of his gallery. The wire sculpture that he is photographed with above is interactive and changeable. When I talked to him about the piece, he uncoiled the sculpture to create different shapes allowing me to move the sculpture as well.


Danilo was very open and told me stories about his work and how he once convinced a sponsor to allow him to purchase all the toy guns and weapons in one toy store as a demonstration against violence with the idea of how the shelves can be empty and bare one day and then completely filled with toy weapons the next in an endless circle of excess.


Dennise Rodriguez (who prefers to be called Den) is a fiber artist working with felt by sewing and hand stitching to create soft, touchable sculptures. Her work is happy, bright, playful and colorful. I was so delighted that she brought her sewing machine to the Fabrika Art Space for all of us to see how she works. Seeing her process and her materials helps me to understand her more as an artist, so I really appreciate that she made the extra effort to bring along all her supplies and equipment to include us on her artistic journey.


Lastly, I got a chance to meet Mary Ann Cohen and her husband Rich, gallery owners of MAC ART Group. Currently on exhibit, is a very impressive body of work by Tico Torres, drummer for Bon Jovi, which includes a wall mural called: "My Cuba" as well as other paintings and sculptures by other artists. However, my favorite paintings they exhibited were created by Maxim Lipzer, an abstract expressionist who lives and works in Argentina... beautiful!




Thursday, February 18, 2010

Wynwood Walls: A Gift from Art Basel



To me, the Wynwood Walls are one of the most interesting projects resulting from Art Basel last December. This once dull, cast-aside space has transformed into a beacon of vibrant life, expression and hope.



When we question the importance of art in public places during tough economic times all you have to do is watch the people when they first walk thought the gates of this now transformed space. People need to be visually nourished, especially in a recession. I believe creativity is what will pull us upward and out of this recession.



I hope all of Miami goes out to see the walls and has a chance to experience the space. It is a grand gift to us from visiting artist during Art Basel. Here is an opportunity to see the impact of art in public places and to witness a fabulous expression of possibilities. One that should be shared, discussed and repeated.

Nancy Martini

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Upcycled Paper Into Elegant Forms...


Anja Marais - "Thoughts are like Cauliflower"

I was immediately drawn to the stunningly beautiful, upcycled work of Anja Marais who is showing at Artformz until March 6th. Marais was inspired by the Japanese practice of tying a fortune written on a piece of paper to a tree branch. Over time, the paper will weather away along with your bad fortune or make good fortune realized.

Nancy Martini

Art Selling Faster Than a Sale at Macy's!


Greg Martini and Bill Hodges

NWSA ArtSceen Gallery last night was a hugh success. For the first time in my life, I saw people pulling art off the walls and standing in line to purchase art in a gallery. Their goal was to raise $50,000 to benefit New World School of the Arts and Design and Architecture High. Each piece of art was a fixed price of $50. Most of the pieces were small unframed abstract works piled high on tables. Great idea!