18 Rabbit

18 Rabbit Gallery is Fort Lauderdale's newest addition in the art realm. Located on the corner of Andrews Avenue and Broward Boulevard, this gallery can't be missed. All of the exterior walls are covered in a graffiti mural, which can keep you busy admiring on the outside of the gallery just as long as the inside.

18 Rabbit will hold monthly art openings with new work from some up and coming artists. This month's exhibit (the gallery's first exhibit, open until November 23rd) is called 'Fireworks'. This show, which opened October 23rd, is to be a celebration of more art in Fort Lauderdale.






























My personal favorite of the show was the work done by artist Tony Ingisano.
As a lover of intricate, mind blowingly detailed drawings, his work had me hooked. One of those artists that makes you want to see more.
If you don't get a chance to check out the current exhibit, make sure to get to the 18 Rabbit Gallery for the next. They are sure to surprise once again with some really cool art.

Miami Dolphins' New Recruit: Romero Britto

Even those South Floridians with no knowledge of art, the art world, art scene, or whatever else you want to call it, know of Romero Britto. They may not know his name, or even recognize that all the bright colored, playful sculptures adorning the region belong to the same creator. But everyone in South Florida has seen his art and we are about to see more.

Land Shark Stadium has added the art of "local" artist Romero Britto. Britto, born in Brazil, resides in Miami and has made a huge name for himself (good or bad, you decide) by mass marketing his art in ways reminiscent of Peter Max and Dale Chihuly. And now, the Dolphins have brought him to "create a greater fan experience", according to Dolphin's owner Stephen M. Ross.

















As for myself, I can't decide what I think of Britto. I'm not a fan of his style, but I am a fan of public art popping up in places you least expect. And because of that, I look forward to seeing the new and improved Land Shark Stadium.



source: LandSharkStadium Aug 7, 2009

Street Art by Primary Flight

Street Art is moving up in society this year.

The Miami-based Street Art collective Primary Flight will no longer be on the outskirts of Art Basel. For the past two years they have livened up the streets of Miami's Wynwood Arts District, with almost 100 artists working together to produce collaborative, street level, outdoor murals (a.k.a - graffiti) . This year, South Beach's ArtCenter/South Florida will host Primary Flight's gallery show, Blue Print for Space, showcasing 25 of today's most unique and influential street artists.
Primary Flight founder, BooksIIII, commented, “The Street Art movement has become a standard, reaching out to almost every city across the globe, empowering any person with an interest to get up in the street with an unofficial license to do so. This year’s exhibition at ArtCenter/South Florida will be a transition from the street to the gallery, but will nonetheless maintain the same edge and voice that wails in the street each and every time we go to sleep.”
Source: SoulofMiami

Primary Flight has certainly spruced up the Wynwood Arts District thus far, so I look forward to seeing what they will do this year...on the street, and in the gallery.

Art Basel, Once Again

On December 3rd, Art Basel Miami will storm South Florida for the 8th year in a row. For four days, Miami Beach will be taken over by the "art world". More than 250 of the world's leading art galleries will show works by more than 2,000 of the leading artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

It's a lot to take in.

This makes me happy. For myself, a yearly attendee, it's a whirlwind of inspiration and awe, battling disgust and confusion (some of the art can be quite absurd). The Miami Beach Convention Center, the epicenter for Art Basel, is where I will hang out; not only to take in the works of art (some ranging in the millions of dollars), but to take in the works of art walking around. Yes, Art Basel is a fantastic people watching venture as well.

For those not looking to take out a 2nd mortgage and purchase anything, it is still a magnificent, culturally awakening experience that I recommend for all.

To purchase tickets, view a full list of galleries attending, or look for any more valid information that I didn't provide, check out the official Art Basel Miami Beach site. Enjoy!

Sonje Ayiti Art Project

Recently, I had the privilege of attending the 'Sonje Ayiti Art Project' at Bamboo Flats in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was a small show with a big heart. Local artist Megan Wackes teamed up with photographer Lindsey Whiddon (also of Broward county) and Jane Wackes (Meg's mom) with a show to benefit the orphans of Haiti. Besides the great vibe of the show (which was void of callous art scene snobbery), the art was fantastic.
Wackes, an art teacher at Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, created ten masterful works inspired by a recent trip to Haiti. All ten pieces sold and the show was a success. What I liked most at this show (besides the heart wrenching portraits) was the lack of greed and pomp. Instead, the atmosphere had a refreshing aroma of charitable giving. 100% of the proceeds went to help the very children in the paintings sold.
Check out more from the show here.