Date of publication 27/09/2018
Cultural tourism in Florida Miami, a Tropical Art Feast
The Cultural Revolution in Florida's Capital
Some people come to Miami for its beaches and promenades, but also for the southern gastronomy in this city that has so many variations. But especially in recent years, Miami has become the playground for artists, collectors, critics, gallery owners and occasional buyers who make all their fantasies a reality in the form of a canvas, steel, a digital installation or spray paint.
Miami has several neighborhoods that can be visited, each with its own characteristic personality. We recommend exploring South Beach on foot. It is easy to reach all neighborhoods by public transport or by car.
South Beach without cliches
But let's start at the beginning. Let’s go first to Miami Beach and South Beach, where Carl Fisher imagined a bright and future tourist city. The great construction boom would come between the twenties and forties, when most of the Art Decó and MiMo style buildings (Miami Modern) that now decorate this part of the city were built.
Between 5th and 23rd Streets, recently named the Art Deco Historic District, more than 800 historic buildings have been preserved and stand out because of their geometric shapes, pastel-colored facades and glass brick walls.
A display of a unique style that also set in front of the sea with another of the city's icons: 13.6 kilometers of beach where the most famous lifeguard stands in the world are built. They are unique elements that were already present in the 1920s but have been renovated over time. Many of the 31 stations we see today were designed by William Lane, a local architect who designed them in the 90s.
After Sun Fairs
Every December, sun-seekers rub shoulders with another type of visitor: Miami Art Week attendees. Fair tents land on this beach and other open spaces such as Collins Park and Soundscape Park. A figure to clarify the magnitude of the event: 20 art fairs are held simultaneously during the Art Week, that are attended by more than 1,200 galleries accompanied by thousands of artists.
The epicenter of all of them is Art Basel, the American version of the prestigious Swiss fair (held in June), which also has a presence in Hong Kong (March). But the same week, at the same time, SCOPE, Art Miami, Untitled, NADA Art Fair, Art Miami, Aqua Art Miami, each with its own style and offerings, open their doors.
It is, for many, the time to show themselves to the world, to seduce, to make contacts, or even to make some celebrity a real and virtual patron of their work.
Year-Wide Creativity
But December is not the only art month in Miami. In fact, all year round there is creative excitement and people willing to be drawn into it. Take Wynwood, for example. The city’s youngest and most diverse neighborhood owes its fame to the creativity of many artists who have put their ideas on the front of old textile stores.
Then came Tony Goldman, a tycoon with a lot of money and good nose for the real estate business and made it fashionable as he had done some time ago with the famous New York SoHo. And among other things provided a space for urban artists, who had long been painting in the backyards of the neighborhood.
Thus, the Wynwood Walls were born. Today, this open-air art gallery is the tourist epicenter of a district in which Peter Tunney or Shepard Fairey (creator of the famous Obama “Hope” poster), Bordalo or The London Police have left their mark.
And keep your eyes peeled! There are also graffiti artists and muralists like Maya Hayuk, Aiko or Lady Pink. But Wynwood’s urban revolution doesn’t end here; spray paint has acted as a magnet for other kinds of art creators and collectors as well. In recent years, over 70 galleries have been established between Biscayne Boulevard and NW 6th Avenue.
A Nouvelle Vague of museums
One of the latest additions to the picture is the Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) replacing the former Miami Art Museum opening new location and new ecofriendly building designed by the Swiss Pritzker winners, Herzog & de Meuron.
It is outdoor architecture made to impress. Inside, temporary exhibitions have been held from Frida Kahlo to Ai Wei Wei. Another example that has recently opened its home is the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICAMIAMI), a space that serves as a showcase for local artists.
Among the veteran venues, the Rubell Family Collection, one of the largest private collections of contemporary art in the world, which hosts works by international artists known to all such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jeff Koons, or Keith Haring.
Whether through new museums, emerging neighborhoods or art fairs, Miami has managed to position itself among the world’s largest art cities. And all this without giving up its authenticity and roots, making mixing and convergence its main cement.
The appeal goes far beyond the beach. Magnificent historic districts, exciting night sports, excellent hotel offerings in Miami ... no matter what kind of visitor you are, the city has a lot to offer you.
KRIS UBACH
Photography by Cordon Press and Getty Images
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