“Anything you can do, I can do better.

I can do anything better than you.” – “Anything You Can Do” is a song composed by Irving Berlin for the 1946 Broadway musical “Annie Get Your Gun.”

And, indeed, through her tireless efforts for bringing Women’s achievements throughout the decades to our forefront, Dr. Lynette Long has. Dr. Long has celebrated women’s achievements by honoring women through Historical Markers and Statues.

Dr. Long is a licensed psychologist and former college professor. She has published more than twenty-five books and dozens of articles and has written two award-winning plays. A math education expert, she is particularly interested in the math achievement of young girls. Long coined the phrase “latchkey children” with her husband Thomas Long and wrote the bestselling “Handbook for Latchkey Children and Their Working Parents.” She is President and Founder of the not-for-profit: Equal Visibility Everywhere.

Dr. Long, with the help of her longtime creative assistant Connor Grill, have created the only South Florida exhibit that celebrates the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women’s constitutional right to vote. The passage marked the largest expansion of democracy in the history of our country.

The exhibit is titled “Unfinished Business: The Fight for Suffrage & Beyond.” The educational and interactive exhibit will have a 3 month run from December 1, 2019 to April 1, 2020 at the Miami Design Preservation League located at 1001 Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Florida.

Links:
womensexhibition.funraise.org/
youtu.be/dsYzCrblSn4

Q&A with curator Dr. Lynette Long

Q: What motivated you to create your “Unfinished Business” exhibit?
A. Dr. Lynette Long
Before the passage of the 19th Amendment which granted women the right to vote women had a very limited ability to own property or to keep their own wages. They were barred from many colleges and professions. Most importantly women had no say in the laws that governed them. The suffragettes risked their lives, endured torture and imprisonment in their 72-year lomg fight for the right to vote. They deserve to have heir story told and to be honored.

Q. Why did you name your exhibit “Unfinished Business?”
A. Dr. Lynette Long
I entitled the exhibit “Unfinished Business” because the fight for women’s equality is far from over. Women are under-represented in Congress and there has never been a woman president or vice-president. Women are often paid less than men for the same work. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) which guarantees women equality was never ratified.

Q: Your daughter recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Sienna, your only granddaughter. What do you want Sienna to appreciate and learn from the these fearless women who gave up so much 100 years ago?
A: Dr. Lynette Long
I want her to learn never to give up fighting for what is fair and true. That a few brave women can change the world and to never settle for less that what is rightly hers.

Guest Article courtesy Angela Shlyakhov

Will the Miami Marine Stadium Ever Be Restored?

By Donald Worth, Co-Founder, Friends of Miami Marine Stadium and Restore Marine Stadium
and Angela Shlyakhov, Anzhelika Productions and producer of the “IF SEATS COULD TALK” Exhibitions

August 17, 2019

For well over a decade, everyone has been hearing about the restoration of the historic Miami Marine Stadium located on scenic Virginia Key Biscayne. To date, nothing has still happened. Therefore, the restoration effort must be just a crazy idea and, of course, the land could eventually be used for high end condominiums and hotels. It’s not hard to be cynical in Miami. In this article, we will lay out the “insider’s view” and history of the effort to restore the Miami Marine Stadium.

1963-2007: First, an Introduction
The Miami Marine Stadium (and Basin) were built in 1963. Originally created for boat racing-a popular sport at the time, the Stadium eventually expanded to include concerts on a floating stage, Easter Sunrise services, and even political events. Since it was built, the Stadium has been recognized as an architectural marvel-its concrete roof was considered the longest span of cantilevered concrete in the world. The concerts and events were legendary, and the Marine Stadium operated for 28 years. In 1992, after Hurricane Andrew, the Stadium was shut down.

But there were always problems. The City ran the facility and it often lost money on an annual basis. Beginning in the mid-80s, the number of events at the Stadium began to decline and the property was not maintained. At this point, developers began to approach the City, suggesting that the site could be better used for commercial purposes. After Hurricane Andrew, the City alleged that the Stadium was damaged and received $1 million in FEMA funding to demolish the building. Ultimately an engineering company hired by the insurers of the Marine Stadium conducted a study and determined that the Stadium was NOT damaged by the Hurricane and in fact was structurally sound. (Note: to this day, people have incorrectly stated that the Stadium was damaged by the Hurricane). The Marine Stadium sat idle decaying and in disrepair-a prime candidate for demolition by neglect.

2008-2014: Years of Advocacy, Friends of Miami Marine Stadium
In January, 2008, an informal group, Friends of Miami Marine Stadium (FMMS) was established under the umbrella of Dade Heritage Trust to advocate for restoration of the Stadium. This was a Don Quixote effort at its best. With the exception of (then) City of Miami Commissioner Tomas Regalado, every politician was either skeptical or hostile to the idea. Members of the Administration also thought it made no sense. After all, the Marine Stadium was damaged beyond repair and was really a “white elephant”, right?

Nevertheless, FMMS found strong public sentiment for saving the Stadium. Prestigious national organizations such as the World Monuments Fund, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Express Foundation and Tourism Cares all became involved and lent support. There were numerous public events, lectures, even a comprehensive exhibition at the Coral Gables Museum and another at HistoryMiami Museum.

The Friends group began to make progress with the City of Miami, as well. The Marine Stadium (and Basin) were designated Historic by the City’s Historic Environmental and Preservation Board. At this time, Tomas Regalado became Mayor and he made restoration of the Marine Stadium a key priority. In July, 2013, the City of Miami entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Friends of Miami Marine Stadium, giving the organization 18 months to raise the money (estimated at $30 million) to restore the Stadium. Gloria Estefan became the spokesperson for the Friends group and the Stadium continued to receive national publicity-including ten editorials of support from The Miami Herald.

November 2014-Failure
Friends of Miami Marine Stadium did not raise $30 million. Instead, they proposed a development plan which was widely criticized as being unfeasible and included numerous conflicts of interest. The City Commission rejected it unanimously. Both Gloria Estefan and the National Trust for Historic Preservation-were enraged by this turn of events and completely dissociated themselves from the organization. After six years of increasing success, Friends of Miami Marine Stadium, the lead group advocating for restoration of the Stadium, unfortunately collapsed.

2014-2018: Slow Progress
Ironically, what probably saved the Marne Stadium was the arrival of the Miami Boat Show. The Boat Show had to relocate because their former home-the Miami Beach Convention Center-was being renovated. There were few alternatives that made sense so they settled on the Marine Stadium location. The Miami Boat Show was actually part of the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium development proposal which was rejected. The City of Miami decided to bring the Boat Show to the Marine Stadium and negotiations commenced.

Moving the Boat Show to the Marine Stadium was and is controversial. But it has been beneficial to the Stadium for several important reasons. First, it “iced the site” and prevented full scale redevelopment (i.e. condos and hotels). Bringing the Boat Show-and its 100,000 attendees to the site, drew attention to the Marine Stadium. Finally, after six years of advocacy it seems that the political winds had shifted. The Miami City Commission began discussing how The City could take over the restoration of the project.

But the City moved at a glacial pace. In 2016, RJ Heisenbottle Architects was selected to begin restoration plans for the Stadium. In 2017, the City issued a Request for Letters of Interest from potential operators of the Stadium. In 2017, the Miami City Commission actually approved the sale of $45 million in revenue bonds to finance the restoration of the Stadium. This was big news but approval remains preliminary. It did not help that there was an election in 2017 and as Tomas Regalado was termed out, a new Mayor, Francis Suarez, was elected. It took a while for his Administration to find its footing.

During this time, advocacy efforts slowly revived. The National Trust for Historic Preservation resumed its long history of support and lit up the Stadium in 2015 for their annual meeting. A new grass roots group, Restore Marine Stadium was created in 2015 and introduced its Facebook page. The group now has over 3,000 followers. In the summer of 2016, Heineken launched a major crowd funding campaign for the Stadium. Its outstanding video of the Stadium went viral generating 39 million views-demonstrating in concrete (can’t resist) terms the enormous commercial potential of the Stadium. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io42_aXraxY)

2019: A Good Year for the Marine Stadium

Here is where we stand (so far):

-Comprehensive restoration plans by RJ Heisenbottle will be completed in the next several months.

-The Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) approved a $1.2 million grant for restoration of the Stadium, subject to receiving applicable Federal and State permits. FIND may provide additional grants in the future to this project.

-The City of Miami has issued a Request for Proposal for an outside, professional operator for the Marine Stadium. Responses are due by the end of August and a number of qualified firms are bidding.

-Restore Marine Stadium and Anzhelika Productions introduced an exhibition of original Marine Stadium seats removed by Heineken and reimagined by artists during Art Basel 2018 at the Miami Dome in Little Haiti. On April 24, 2019, 12 of over 60 seat artworks were exhibited at the Miami Design Preservation League Welcome Center in Miami Beach. Our exhibition entitled “If Seats Could Talk runs through September 9, 2019 in collaboration with Historic Virginia Key Beach Park. All of the artist seats can be seen on the website, www.restoremarinestadium.org and are available for purchase.

-Heineken is back with another promotion. This involves a contest to place your name on a sculpture to be located in front of the Stadium, a series of “Marine Stadium Sessions” (concerts at local clubs) and an upcoming promotion with Publix.

-All these efforts have re-energized momentum, public awareness and press coverage, with recent articles in Ocean Drive Magazine, the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel, on WLRN Radio, Excitement Radio, with lots more to come.

So What’s Next?

The next twelve months are key. The Miami City Commission will be considering several final approvals for the Marnie Stadium-approval of an operator and approval of a construction contract. If the City Commission approves, then the restoration process will begin (construction should take 18-24 months).

It will be necessary to mobilize support to the Miami City Commission at that time. In the past, we’ve been able to generate over 1,000 individual emails to City Commission and this has been a key to our incremental success. To be kept informed about the Stadium, join the facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Restoremarinestadium

Restore The Stadium: Will We Do It And What Have We Learned?

We are cautiously optimistic. The Administration is moving forward and we believe with proper public support at the right time, the Commission will be with us. Challenges remain-such as allocating time and use of the site between Marine Stadium operations and the Miami Boat Show, but there is clearly positive momentum.

However, in Miami nothing is assured and it’s taken almost 12 years to get to this point. So what have we learned?

-Don’t give up!! This has been a grass roots project from the beginning. If it wasn’t for the undying spirit and hard work by many, the Miami Marine Stadium would have been demolished years ago.

-It’s vitally important to have political leadership. In fact, without the support of at least one elected official, our years of advocacy would be history. Mayor Tomas Regalado was a leader when no one else was. His successor, Mayor Francis Suarez has warmed to the challenge and is now a strong supporter. District Commissioner Ken Russell has shown leadership as well. Marc Sarnoff, Commissioner from 2007-2015 was skeptical of the Stadium but nevertheless was willing to advocate for a practical path forward.

-If you are a grass roots organization, it helps to have the support of strong, outside organizations to provide credibility and resources. We have been extremely fortunate to have the following organizations in our corner: The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the World Monuments Fund, Tourism Cares, the Getty Foundation, the American Express Foundation and locally the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau have been important supporters of our effort.

-Try to be realistic, fact based, and not emotional. Carefully consider the arguments of people who may disagree with you. Don’t be afraid to compromise. Always remember, “the perfect” is the enemy of “the good”.

-Don’t forget the press! Stories on television, newspapers, radio, web publications can greatly increase our reach and effectiveness. We’ve also been fortunate here; the story of the Marine Stadium is attractive from a number of angles and we’ve gotten local, national and international press, including a long article in the New York Times, three major stories syndicated nationally by the Associated Press, and a 7 ½ minute spot on the PBS News Hour.

-Sometimes, you have to get lucky. When Friends of Miami Marine Stadium collapsed, the whole site was vulnerable to massive commercial development. But the Miami Boat Show arrived at the right time to preserve the site.

While it is easy to be cynical, especially in Miami, that accomplishes nothing. We’ll end with two quotes from one of America’s greatest entrepreneurs:

“I haven’t failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work”
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try one more time.”
-Thomas Edison

.

(Disclaimer: This article is guest authored by the above credited authors and may not represent the opinions of this institution.)

This is from “Nat Turner” originally posted on Facebook. Reprinted with permission.

How often are we as humans actually present to the people around us? Something significant happened on my way into work today. I was not paying attention and leaving a convenient store, there was a mother pushing a stroller on the right side of me. Now I was nowhere near close to harming her or her kid but the fact remains I was not paying attention.

This woman went absolutely APE SHIT!!! Screaming profanity and even spitting on me and on my car. Now I could have done the same thing back. I did not deserve to be spit at, or on, for that matter. But, what I did was get “present” to her world and her feelings. I said, “You’re right!! I should have been paying attention!” She stopped yelling. I said, “I am totally at fault and understand why you’re so mad!” She still said nothing. I then said “I give you my word that I will be more vigilant and remember this moment,” and then I thanked her. She stood emotionless for what seemed like an hour then began to ball hysterically, crying.

She then apologized to me for spitting on me and said this: “I just moved down here from Vermont. This baby is only 8 months old. Her dad left us for his new wife and I’m all alone.” I hugged her and she cried. So did I! I told her that I live nearby with my girlfriend and am no stranger to pain. I gave her my business card and asked her if she would like to bring her child over for dinner one night with my girlfriend and I? She cried harder. I said, “You have to! It’s not an option now!” She started to laugh and I hugged her one more time.

If I did not have the tools to get “present” with another human being, this would never have happened. Spitting on me is a quick way to get your teeth knocked out. Ask somebody. But, we as humans have got to get present to the people around us. We have gto stop confusing our “standards and ideals” for “principles and values.”

I could have yelled at this woman. Instead, I got to feel her pain and be present to a total stranger’s life and made a new friend. I Love ya ;) Notice the world around you. You’ll find it looks just like you, but not at all the way your eyes see it.

The R.U. (A Grassroots Charity Movement)

A guest article by Jonathan Rose

For The Mayor and The Commission of Miami-Dade County:

“And even should the cloud of barbarism and despotism again obscure the science
and libraries of Europe, this country remains to preserve and restore light and liberty to them. . . .” [emphasis added]
Letter to John Adams
[September 12, 1821]

From an essay by Gautam Patel (lawyer from India) Public Libraries: The Soul of a Civilization

“[T] the heart of every city is defined by two things: the state of its public spaces, and the quality and condition of its public libraries. Indeed, a public library defines not only the city in which it sits, but the state of the society that created it. [emphasis added]
* * *
Public libraries represent an ideal, an idea of freedom and a commitment to its continuance. In modern times, perhaps the greatest commitment to public libraries (and, this cannot be coincidence either, university education) has been in America and England.
[emphasis added]
* * *
Cutting back on public spending on libraries is every bit as catastrophic and dangerous as burning or physical destruction, and far more insidious. [emphasis added]
* * *
But there is a deeper reason why we should all protest against the closures and cutbacks being forced on libraries. The loss of every library is not just the loss of a building or a warehouse of books. It represents a loss of knowledge, an abandonment of a commitment to education, growth, development and freedom. The loss of every library shrinks its society. Jorge Luis Borges imagined paradise to be “a kind of library”; great societies shave great public libraries, for nothing represents a more democratic commitment to the citizen than a public garden and a public library. [emphasis added]
[Entire article]
and:
“Google may save time. Libraries save minds. There can never be enough emphasis added to the statement ‘Libraries save minds.’ ” [emphasis added]

by Jonathan Rose – July 4, 2014
Culture in the City

Guest Article by Erin Mia

Outsmart ATM Fees and Give a Cool Toy to a Kid

A friend of mine recently shared an idea with me on how to outsmart ATM banking fees and get a cool toy at the same time. I thought it was so brilliant that I should share it, but I added my own twist and attached a little ‘Mitzvah Project’ onto it.

Most of us find ourselves in need of a little pocket cash every now & again so stopping at an ATM is what we all naturally do. Well, chances are, if you need cash NOW, your own bank’s ATM is miles away so you’re going to be charged a $3. fee to use another bank’s services. That’s a drag. Have you any idea how much profit banks make on convenience fees?

Here’s the constructive solution: Stop in to any local Walgreens or CVS (they’re on every corner) and purchase a Matchbox Car for about the same price as the out-of-network ATM fee and use your ATM card to purchase it. When the machine asks you if you’d like cash back, hit YES and get your $20. or $40. bucks that you need. Now you have your cash, ‘Big Banking’ doesn’t get their $3. fee and you have a cool miniature of one of your favorite cars.

NOW… let’s turn this project into a MITZVAH (a good deed).

Donate those Matchbox cars to Kids In Distress or any children’s charity, so that children who could REALLY enjoy a new toy that helps them explore their imagination, will also benefit.

EASY – WIN-WIN-WIN.
Spread a little sunshine and share this with your friends :)

With Love,
Erin Mia Milchman
Erin Mia Milchman, Inc.

Guest Article by Ilmar Saar

On November 30th Oxenberg Fine Art hosted and evening celebrating the opening of Fernando Vignoli‘s exhibition of oil paintings, From Babel to Basel. Also on display were works from other fine artists such as Mira Lehr, Cesar Santos, Brian Batt, Sebastian Spreng, Heriberto Mora, Mimi Bates, Riita Klint, Neltje, Albert Paley, Jonathan Hertzel, Marcello Corra, Linda Lee Johnson, Janet Slom and Dolly Moreno.

Interestingly enough the space not only hosts two galleries; Oxenberg Fine Art and Kelley Roy Gallery but also the the Finnish Consulate of whom Susan P. Kelly one of the galley owner is also the Swedish consul.

From Babel to Basel will be on view through December 31.

Oxenberg Fine Art / Kelley Roy Gallery / Consulate of Finland
50 NE 29th Street,
Miami, FL 33137

Park Avenue Pianos treated Braman Rolls Royce VIPs to a private concert at the exclusive launch for the 2014 Rolls Royce Wraith, the most potent and technologically advanced Rolls Royce ever made. Park Avenue Pianos brought a mint condition and “Golden Age” Steinway Grand Piano from its collection, for a classical performance by: concert pianist Ronen Segev, president of Park Avenue Pianos; FIU alumni, Soprano Rebecca Longtemps; and 10-year-old singer and violinist, BPinchuk. Florida International University (FIU) President Mark Rosenberg attended the concert and event, which drew support for FIU’s music program. Park Avenue Pianos, with locations in New York City, Miami and Washington D.C., provides clients with the world’s most finely crafted Steinway & Sons pianos including Steinway grand pianos, upright pianos and Steinway baby grands. Park Avenue Pianos provides Steinway pianos of various vintages of past and present, including mint condition “Golden Age” Steinway grand pianos, considered by many to be the best Steinway ever made. Park Avenue Pianos works with concert pianists to handpick the finest examples of “Golden Age” craftsmanship from around the world, and, through a with a team of renowned specialty technicians, restores their original Golden Steinway piano sound. For more information about Park Avenue Pianos, visit www.steinwaygrand.com.

Photos by World Red Eye:
Ken Harte (Braman Motors general manager), Mark Rosenberg (FIU president), & Ronen Segev (Park Avenue Pianos president)
Park Avenue Pianos President Ronen Segev, musical performers Biana Pinchuk and Rebecca Longtemps
Kirstin and Uli Petzold
Nikki and Richard Barron
Katie and Alex Yahr
Steinway Grand Piano
Gerardo Guijarro & Rebecca Longtemps
Park Avenue Pianos at the VIP launch of the new Rolls Royce Wraith
10-year-old singer and violinist, Biana Pinchuk

International Wines: US Tour 2013, article by Sylvia Pilar
Wine tasting has become  a favorite pastime across the country.  Tastings are offered everywhere from the local liquor store to the major discount wholesalers   and wine and food festivals across the country. These events have opened the doors to consumers to go out and taste local wines and from around the world as well as educate their palate. Special wine industry tastings from wine producing regions around the world offer  private events for the trade. T wo elaborate wine tasting events for the trade were held in Miami Beach this January .  As a sommelier and consultant, it was my pleasure to attend both these events.

Castilla-La Mancha US Tour 2013
January 17th- South Beach, Miami…Spain’s wines of Castilla-La Mancha US Tour 2013 was held at the
former Versace Mansion, now converted to an exclusive boutique hotel, “The Villa by Barton G”.  The opulent setting provided a marvelous opportunity to meet the winemakers who make the wines and are keepers of the traditions. It was also an opportunity  to  discover the wonders of this fascinating wine region  from the land of Don Quixote’s.  A seminar was conducted by local wine experts  to introduce and familiarize attendees to featured wine selections. Delicious authentic Spanish tapas and live music were splendid pairings and an added bonus to the excellent wines!

The wine region represents one of the oldest wine-making regions in the world. The winemakers show-cased winemaking styles that utilize and combine traditional methods with modern techniques.  The wines represented an array of 46 grape varieties to meet every palate and budget, from  the youngest to the special reserves: reds, whites, roses and sparkling wines.

Outstanding  wines from the various vineyards included award winning wines, and organic wines.The “Don Quixote’s Spain” brand represents a variety of wines from a region in central Spain that reflects the plurality and the diverse cultures of Castilla-La Mancha. FINE WINE, HOW DIVINE!

Vinitaly & Slow Wine Tour 2013
January 30, 2013  -  Miami Beach:  Slow Wine guide presentation and tasting  chose the Miami Beach Spa and Resort as one of the U.S locations. This wine expo was a joint venture of Vinitaly International, the ambassador of Italian wine  in collaboration  with  the publisher of Slow Wine Guide, an English guide to Italian wines.  It  offered  the  American wine trade 2013’s most comprehensive Italian wine tasting and education in the US.

The Vinitaly tour format combined seminars, interviews, round tables ,  tastings  to  buyers, distributors, food and beverage managers, sommeliers, opinion leaders and specialized press.  An exclusive olive oil master  class hosted by UNAPROL, the organization of Italian olive oil producers as well as master tasting classes on Prosecco and Soave,  presented an  additional element to the program.  A  light lunch, along with desserts, fruit and cheese complimented the walk around tastings.

With so many wines show casing, the event was spread over two floors: the lobby area and the 18th floor banquet and conference facilities.  Plenty of Proseccos and Moscatos were at hand along with the endless  varieties of reds, whites and roses.  With over 70 wineries sampling wines from  their portfolio, guests were  able to taste their way around some of Italy’s most important and famous regions, a most tasteful and educational afternoon.

It was a bit  overwhelming  with so much  information on the  Italian heritage of people,  vineyards and the  vast amount and  range of wines,  but nonetheless an outstanding presentation.  Additional tastings aperitifs and festivities followed at “dei Frescobaldi”  restaurant inside  the Hotel Astor in South Beach.
Cheers,
Sylvia Pilar,
Certified Sommelier/Wine consultant/Writer

Finding Affordable and Accessible Art
Amidst Art Week Miami’s More Expensive, Eccentric Offerings
By: Eric Smith, CEO of Artexpo International

“It’s interesting… but is it art?” It’s a question you sometimes hear at Miami Art Week, as the ratio of quirky, kitschy and downright eccentric art seems to soar along with the event’s exponential growth each year. Ultra contemporary art certainly has its place, but is there still a market for buyers interested in more accessible offerings?

Absolutely, says Eric Smith, CEO of Artexpo Miami, which is now in its second year in the Wynwood District. “There will always be a place for more extreme, conceptual art,” says Smith, “but the fact is, there are a lot of people who come to Miami Art Week just looking for a few innovative new pieces for their home or office.”

Each December, more than 50,000 art collectors, gallery owners and designers descend upon Miami, which has become the go-to winter destination for the fine art community. The city hosts more than 20 art fairs at that time—from storied giants like Art Basel, Art Miami, Scope and Pulse, to boutique fairs like Artexpo Miami, Ink and Aqua. Admidst all the excitement, the crowds and media tend to swarm around the more show-stopping, eclectic artworks, just as people tend to cluster around über-luxe Porches, Lamborghinis and Maseratis at car shows. But when it comes time to buy, most people favor elegant and affordable over out there and overpriced. In the end, there aren’t all that many people who actually want to buy—or can afford to—a giant $150,000 statue of, say, Donald Duck in Communist attire.

If you’re one of the many art lovers who are looking for more down-to-earth, wallet-friendly art finds, try the following tips:

1. Hit the Big Fairs for Fun, But Shop the Smaller Fairs
By all means, visit the big, iconic art fairs that started it all. Art Basel, Art Miami, Scope and others will offer you no end of extravagant eye candy, entertaining performance art and fodder for thought. But when it comes to shopping, be sure to pop in the smaller galleries and art fairs, unless your décor—and wallet—can accommodate more outlandish, big-ticket items. Must-see stops include: Artexpo Miami, Aqua, Nada, Pool, Verge, Overture Miami and Design Miami.

2. Scour the Galleries for One-of-a-Finds
Sometimes, wandering the maze of massive art fairs can feel a little overwhelming. If you’re looking for smaller doses and more intimate settings in which to explore art, you’ll enjoy the smattering of galleries in the trendy Wynwood Art District. Recently named “the 6th most stylish neighborhood” in the world by Complex magazine, Wynwood is home to over 70 galleries, museums and collections. You’ll have a wonderful time exploring this artist’s haven, and you’re sure to meet some interesting new people too.

3. Mingle with Exhibitors, Ask About Their Offerings
At an art fair or opening, exhibitors are really only exhibiting a small selection of their work. In many cases, they bring their higher-end items. If there’s an artist whose work you really like, approach them (or the owner of the gallery or publisher who is exhibiting their work) and find out if they have pieces that are more in your budget. Ask if they offer limited-edition, archival-quality reproductions of their work, as many artists do. Or if the work is very large, ask if they do smaller works. It never hurts to ask, and besides, it gives you an opportunity to get to know the artist and learn about their inspiration, technique and larger body of work.

by Eric Smith, CEO with Artexpo International

Franklin Sinanan,  Painter, Mixed-Media, Sculpture & Furniture Artist; Art  Center South Florida 810 Lincoln Road, Studio 205, Miami Beach, FL 33139  November Exhibition: “Art of the Macabre” by Sylvia Pilar

Talented artists come from around the world, to live work and create in the Miami area, and it is no wonder that a plethora of   galleries  thrive throughout Miami  stretching far  beyond the Wynwood Art Distract and to the beaches. One of my favorite places to view and attend art openings is  The South Florida Art Center  on Lincoln Road:  The art center houses eclectic artists,  studios  and art in all forms:  from fine art,  to  decorative;  from  the subtle and serene,  to the exotic and erotic … and then there is “Voodoo” art: the dark art; art of the afterlife; art of the spirit world, or, what I will refer to as the “Art of the Macabre”.

It is here  at the Art Center where I had the pleasure of attending  a recent opening featuring resident artists displ aying their art.  It is here, where we meet  Franklin Roosevelt Sinanan, a unique, avant-garde artist like no other. It is here where we can find what I call the ‘Art of the Macabre”. Yes, it is here that we find the beauty in the “Art of the Macabre”.

Sinanan’s tiny studio space is like a miniature museum of voodoo and spiritual mystery. His art abounds in  its entire  splendor.  It is a feast for the eyes, filled with overwhelming images that quietly scream the secrets of another realm with an intensity that seduces the imagination.
Sinanan’s work  is more than just the   expression of the voodoo/dark  arts. It is an expansion of his inner soul  and passion.  It reeks of his vibrant energy beneath his quiet exterior.  There is a flame that sparks light and life into the darkness with or without understanding that  awakens the beauty of the mysterious world in the “Art of the Macabre”.

Many are overwhelmed, many are perplexed and others are in awe of the images of alters, demons,  and  intense emotions  that provoke  the soul  to  question,  and interact with alternative perspectives. Regardless of whatever viewpoint one may have, there is no doubt that Sinanan is an authentic artist devoted to expressing his imagination through his art! During Art Basel Week, Sinanan will have a show at the “Art of Africa” in Overtown.

Brief Bio:
Born  in Trinidad  and raised in Canada,  Franklin Sianan now lives in Miami Beach.  Sinanan is self taught and his work has evolved and h as taken on a distinct Afro-Caribbean flair since moving to Miami.  “In Canada,” he says, “my work never looked like this. It was just a lot of white faces.”    He refers to himself as the outsider  but feels comfortable his work despite the controversial art form.  He says, “I’m Canadian … I don’t know anything about Santeria or Voodoo. “I was born in Trinidad, but I wasn’t brought up there, so all this is new for me. I don’t even know if they practice voodoo in Trinidad. Miami influenced me to create these pieces without really knowing  what I was doing. I just see it as art. But people keep telling me  its voodoo or black magic. But I just pulled this stuff out of my head. It’s all imagination.”

Sinanan Summation:
“My work allows me to release my emotions and to draw the viewer  into the push  -  pull of life, love -  hate, violence  -  compassion, good -  evil. Through my work I become transparent  -  almost naked. Where nudity only shows my exterior, my art reveals the total me, inside and out  – the real me! I’m not a news junky, nor do  I read any lofty novels, but I absorb the world around me and with a non-religious spirituality I regurgitate my emotions into the work. For me, religion and politics are difficult to talk about, but when I channel it into my work it seems to come alive and mean something. I paint about everyday stuff: abuse, relationships, anger…….. Often my work offends people. I’m always surprised when people think my work evil, because I do it out of love for life. “

Franklin Sinanan
www.franklinsinanan.com