MANO Fine Art presents “Harriet’s Secret”
Saturday, May 21, 2011, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
MANO Fine Art Project Space
4225 SW 75 Avenue
Miami, FL

For more info: 305.467.6819
www.manofineart.com

Join MANO Fine Art for the Opening Reception for Harriet’s Secret, an exhibition showcasing a new body of work by Miami-based artist, Derek Wilson.

Inspired by the memories of his late mother, Wilson has createed a poignant tribute to a mother’s legacy of love.

Wilson, recalls that the last conversation he had with his mother was a heated debate about her symptoms and the 911 call that he eventually made. Harriet Kathryn Michael as it reads on her birth certificate was struck by a massive heart attack. She passed away in her son’s arms on March 18, 2005 at the age of fifty-six. In his eulogy Wilson spoke about how close he and his mother had always been, “We were the best of friends” Wilson said. Yet, soon after her death he would discover that his mother had kept secrets from him. Some secrets were innocent, as is the story behind her name; Wilson grew up knowing her as Kathy not Harriet, other secrets were little white lies and some were deeper.

Wilson’s work weaves memories into a simple yet sophisticated iconography that gives the viewer a sense of who Kathryn was. Works such as “In A Dream We Spoke”, a portrait of his mother painted on yellow post-it-notes was inspired by her tendency to leave trails of messages around the house. With other pieces such as with the interactive installation “Secret Recipe” the viewer is invited to view a very private world, a world filled with medical recipes and their corresponding side effects. This piece attempts to unravel the web of secrets involving her health; secrets that she undoubtedly took with her.

Wilson, who earned his B.A. in Sculpture from Florida International University, attributes his eclectic taste in materials and media to the many experiences he had as an undergraduate student. “My methodology as it relates to art, is and has always been in a constant state of flux,” says Wilson. “I have an unquenchable thirst for the experiment, the process; this is what drives me.” Wilson, currently lives in Miami, Florida with his wife.

MANO Fine Art is located in the Bird Road Art District at 4225 SW 75 Avenue. For more information contact 305.467.6819 or visit www.manofineart.com

The Opening Reception for Harriett’s Secret will be held in conjunction with the Bird Road Art Walk. On the third Saturday of each month the artists and galleries of the Bird Road Art District open their doors to host a monthly art walk from 7:00 pm-10:00 pm. The Bird Road Art Walk is a unique opportunity to go behind-the-scenes and experience one of Miami’s oldest and most vibrant art districts, where you’ll discover a unique thriving community of more than 30 artists and an emerging gallery scene. The area features a broad range of contemporary, emerging and established artists working in a variety of disciplines.

Enjoy complimentary wine and light bites, plenty of free parking and a free shuttle bus that will take you to each particpating venue.

The Bird Road Art District is nestled between Bird Road (S.W. 40th Street) and SW 48th Street, from SW 75 Avenue to SW 72 Avenue.

For a complete listing of participating venues visit us at www.thebirdroadartdistrict.com.

Facebook: Bird Road Art District
Twitter: @BirdRoadArts