Mary Damiano Photo by David Vance

 Mary Damiano’s Arts Scene

Brigitte Andrade, creator of the comic book Bibi & Friends Photo: Henry Perez

Super Heroes Unite
Get in touch with your inner super hero and check out the newest edition of the Miami Beach Arts Trust’s Evening Bag series, “Publishing Your Own Comic Book,” presented by Brigitte Andrade, Wednesday, August 29, 6:30 p.m. at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden in Miami Beach.  Andrade publishes the successful comic book, Bibi & Friends, which chronicle adventures in Miami Beach.  Issue 10 of Bibi & Friends has just been released.  Andrade will discuss the ins and outs of comic book publishing and will have copies of her own books available.  The Evening Bag series is presented by the Miami Beach Arts Trust, the same wonderful folks who bring you MiamiARTzine.com, and whose mission it is to promote the arts in South Florida.  The event is free and light refreshments will be served.

Two-Day Film School Comes to Miami
The creator of the Hollywood Film Institute, Dov Simens, will be offering his highly acclaimed 2-Day Film School on August 25 and 26 in Miami . The class, which has been attended and praised by some of the industry's elite, will take place at the Doubletree Hotel Coconut Grove between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.  Simens's students have made over 400 films, which have totaled more than $6 billion in box office revenue. Past attendees of his 2-day film school, have included Spike Lee,  Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino, and Guy Ritchie.  The course tackles the entire filmmaking process from start to finish with Simens’ famous 38 steps as the heart of the course.  “For every feature film, whether your budget is $10,000 or $100 million, you are going to write 38 checks,” says Simens. “The 2-Day film school takes you through each one of those steps, explains the nuts and bolts and shows you how to complete a feature film for a small budget.”  The course also tackles subjects outside of the production of feature film, including securing investment, marketing and distribution, the film festival circuit, and much more.  The cost of the 2-Day course is $389, with discount rates for members of WIFT- Florida, Florida's Future Filmmakers, and Film Florida. The Doubletree Hotel Coconut Grove is also offering a discounted rate of $109 per night for all attendees of the event.  For more information or to register, go to womeninfilmfl.org or contact Jennifer Pennypacker: 407-422-7159 x 215 or jennifer@filmorlando.com.

Greenhouses in Winter by Artist Stian Roenning, part of the “Ice in August” art exhibit at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden

“Ice in August” at Miami Beach Botanical Garden
The Miami Beach Botanical Garden will present “Ice in August,” an art exhibit that sounds like the perfect antidote to Miami’s hot August days and nights.  Presented August 29 to 31, “Ice in August” features the work of video artist Stian Roenning and photographer Joseph Pessar.  Norwegian-born Roenning studied at the International Fine Arts College of Art and Design, and graduated from Florida International University with a BFA in Art. He specializes in video art and music video production and has co-directed and produced music videos for Latin Grammy winners Javier Garcia and Jorge Moreno, and others. The Miami Beach Botanical Garden will showcase his works of Norwegian winter scenes with haunting images of landscapes defined by shades of white and an environment both cold and breathtaking. Pessar also gained inspiration from Norway when he married into a Norwegian family and journeyed from the tropical waves of Miami Beach to snowy landscapes. With studios in Miami and New York, Pessar says, “I go after moments that appeal to me and make me feel a spark or alive inside.” His photographic images of Norwegian landscapes depict his fascination with that country.  There will be an opening reception on Wednesday, August 29 from 6 to 8 p.m.  “Ice in August id free and open to the public.  For more information, call 305-673-7256, ext. 206 or visit mbgarden.org.

Kiddie Propaganda at the Wolfsonian
The Wolfsonian-Florida International University is currently presenting a series of works that strengthen  its holdings of books and other printed ephemera, addressing the active role that graphic design plays as an instrument of political persuasion. “Indoctrinating Youth: Selections from the Pamela K. Harer Gift of Propaganda Books for Children” will be on view through October 31.  The exhibit examines literature has been used to introduce children to certain political agendas.  During the early twentieth century, both democratic and totalitarian countries introduced children to political and war-related messages through books and magazines. Children’s books were a means to enlist even the youngest members of a nation in the broader cause of the war effort and build the allegiance of future adult citizens to the state. In some books, children are depicted as combatants in scenes that make war look like child's play; in others, young readers are encouraged to actively support the war through participation in scrap drives or by saving coins to buy victory stamps. Pamela K. Harer’s generous donation to The Wolfsonian-Florida International University comprises approximately 108 children books. Included in this gift are propaganda pieces from Great Britain, Germany, France, the United States, the Netherlands, and the Soviet Union, and Australia covering the Boer War and, most especially, the First and Second World Wars. Other more contemporary children's books in the collection cover the cold war era, modern conflicts, and war in general, most often from an antiwar perspective. These works invite viewers to make innovative comparisons of shared imagery among countries with very different political systems and are on view in the museum’s rare book and specials collections library vestibule.  The Wolfsonian-FIU is located at 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida. For more information, visit wolfsonian.org.

Director Gus Van Sant

MGLFF Screens Gus Van Sant’s First Film
The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival will screen a special retrospective presentation of Mala Noche, the first film by Gus Van Sant, director of Good Will Hunting, Finding Forester, Drugstore Cowboy, Last Days, and Elephant on August 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Byron-Carlyle Theatre in Miami Beach.   The first feature from acclaimed director Gus Van Sant, Mala Noche is a black-and-white meditation on lust, love, obsession, and class. Stuck behind the cash register of a convenience store in Portland’s skid row, young-ish Walt (Tim Streeter) becomes infatuated with Johnny (Doug Cooeyate), a Mexican teenager and illegal immigrant who is willing to reciprocate Walt’s attentions – to a point. Screened intermittently since 1985, but never given a proper theatrical release, independent and foreign art film distributor Janus Films recently had a new 35mm print created, which the MGLFF will present in its only South Florida screening. Tickets are $13 for non-members and $10 for MGLFF members and can be purchased online at mglff.com or by phone at 305-531-2117.

New Gallery Opens in Miami
Miami’s evolution into a serious art destination has spawned an exciting mix of new galleries, institutions, art fairs and even arts districts that have served to nurture a growing and vibrant visual arts community and its attendant collector base.  In September, Sacco Gallery, a new venture conceived by Stephanie Sacco and husband Neil Schuster, joins the Miami art scene, as the pair open doors to a new space at 6444 Biscayne Boulevard in the city’s burgeoning Upper East Side neighborhood.  The space also houses donated studio space for 15 budding student artists from New World School of the Arts, a program that Sacco developed two years ago.  Sacco Gallery will open to the public on Saturday, September 8, from 7-10 p.m. in conjunction with the monthly Second Saturday Gallery Walk that takes place in Wynwood and the Design District.  For the Saturday opening, the gallery will offer bites from local über-cool hot dog emporium, Dogma Grill.  Ladies and Gentlemen… the gallery’s inaugural exhibit, will feature works by the nine artists the gallery represents – a cross section of emerging and mid-career European and American artists.  The work – primarily conceptual and process based art – is presented through paintings, drawings, video and installation.  Artists include Gema Alava-Crisostomo, Heiko Blankenstein, Tom Brydelsky, David Estes, Kevin H. Jones, Jane Morren, Maurizio Pellegrin, Sarah Trigg and Lee Walton. Several of the artists will attend the Saturday opening. The exhibit will run through Saturday, November 10.  In addition to sponsoring a series of artist talks and events, the gallery will also feature art books for sale from Phaidon Books. Embracing the spirit of Miami’s established nearby arts districts, the gallery will open to the public every second Saturday of the month along with the Wynwood art spaces.  For more, call 786-877-6670 or visit saccogallery.com.

Playwright Tony Finstrom

Play Reading at GableStage
Local playwright and arts patron Tony Finstrom will have a reading of his play, Standing at the Gates of Janus, at the GableStage Theatre in Coral Gables Monday, August 27 at 7:30 p.m.  The play takes in 1971 at an army base in Texas, where the soldiers who waiting to be sent into action overseas must deal with a famous movie star who’s coming to town to protest the war. The reading is directed by Stuart Meltzer and the cast includes Nicholas Duckhardt, Matthew Glass, David Hemphill, Sheaun McKinney, Johnny Mineo, James S. Randolph and Dusty St. Amand.  I saw an earlier incarnation of this play this year at the Mosaic Theatre and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The story is based on Finstrom’s true experiences in the army.  And although it’s set in 1971, the story and themes are just as timely today as they are now.  After the reading, there’ll be a talkback with the playwright, cast and director.

Music Inspired by the Far East
Arts at St. John’s presents “Project Copernicus: From the Land of the Buddha,” a concert featuring classical music inspired by the culture and landscape of the East, written entirely by young composers under the age of 30. Each award-winning young composer draws his or her   own distinct voice from the remarkable wealth of history and beauty of the Far East.  The program includes “Gen,” by Ryjiro Sato;  “Lhotse,” by Steve Danyew;  “L'ours Chinois,” by Randy Wong; and “Empty Mountain, Spirit Rain,” by Angel Lam.  The concert will be presented Saturday, August 25, 7:30 p.m. at Arts at St. Johns at St. John’s on the Lake United Methodist,
4760 Pine Tree Drive, Miami Beach.  Tickets are $20, $15 for students and seniors.  For more information, call 305-613-2325 or visit artsatstjohns.com.

Stuart Meltzer, the new artistic director of City Theatre

City Theatre Names New Artistic Director
Stuart Meltzer, an actor, director and faculty member at New World School of the Arts, has been named the new artistic director of City Theatre.  Meltzer will chart the artistic direction of the organization, whose signature event is Summer Shorts, the annual short play festival.  Meltzer has directed many short plays for the festival, will now run City Theatre, alongside executive director Stephanie Norman and literary manager Marco Ramirez. Meltzer’s plan is to enhance Summer Shorts, adding more components to it, and adding events year-round.  You can check out Meltzer’s directing skills with Everything Will Be Different: A Brief History of Helen of Troy, on stage at the Mad Cat Theatre through August 25.

Georgia Engel

Stars Grace Broadway Series
Several Broadway stars will reprise their roles in the Broadway Across America tours that will make stops in South Florida during this upcoming season.  Georgia Engel, best known as sweet Georgette on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and as Robert’s mother-in-law on “Everybody Loves Raymond,” will play Mrs. Tottendale, the role she created on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone.  Judi Kaye will recreate her role as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd.  Also, British actors Christopher Cazenove and Lisa O’Hare will play Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, direct from London.  For more information on show dates and to purchase tickets, visit carnivalcenter.org and browardcenter.org.  In addition to the Broadway series, Carnival Center has added some big names to their upcoming season, including Bernadette Peters and Martin Short, who will each perform solo shows.

Ceci Fernandez in Everything Will Be Different: A Brief History of Helen of Troy Photo: George Schiavone

Spotlight on Theatre

The summer season is waning but there is still a lot of don’t miss theatre available.  Mad Cat Theatre has mounted a compelling production of Everything Will Be Different: A Brief History of Helen of Troy by Mark Schultz, about a how a teenage girl with low self-esteem deals with her beautiful mother’s death.  It’s well acted, directed and produced and contains some devastating, unforgettable moments.  It runs through August 25. Call 305-576-6377 for reservations and more information. At the GableStage Theatre in Coral Gables there’s a wicked good production of Martin McDonough’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore, about a cat and the man who loves him, who will do anything to avenge the kitty’s untimely demise.  Despite the premise, this is a laugh out loud comedy, full of twists, and cinematic gore.  The Lieutenant of Inishmore runs through September 9.  gablestage.org.   Up in Broward, all women, but especially the more bodaciously curvaceous among us, will appreciate Real Women Have Curves by Josefina Lopez, produced by The Women’s Theatre Project in Fort Lauderdale.  The story concerns the not-so-skinny Latina workers in a dress factory, and how they bond with each other and themselves.  While the play could have a brisker pace, and the final monologue is out of place, you can’t help but feel inspired by the play’s message of female empowerment.  Real Women Have Curves runs through September 2.  womenstheatreproject.com; 954-462-2334. And opening this weekend is the final installment of New Theatre’s Shakespeare and Friends Festival; this is the “and Friends” part, George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan, about Joan of Arc.  While you’re at New Theatre for the play, be sure to check out the photographs on the walls.  New Theatre hosts a different artist’s work for each production, and this time it’s MiamiARTzine.com’s own Henry Perez, who will showcase his “Heavens” series.  Saint Joan runs through September 16. new-theatre.org.

MOCA Gallery Night
The City of North Miami with the collaboration of the Museum of Contemporary Arts is hosting a Gallery Night Walk on Friday August 31, 7 p.m. There will be several galleries open that night to the public, and live jazz performances outside of the museum.  One of the galleries participating in the event is the Muletart Gallery, which will feature an exbibit called “From the Sacred to the Profane,” with works by avant-garde Cuban artist Mulet, as well as the first United States exhibit of Arte Sacro by famous Cuban-Venezuelan artist Ludovicus. This is a unique opportunity to see two fascinating artists coming together for the first time, bringing their visions of sensitivity, love, faith and devotion. The parking is free, and hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served.  Muletart Gallery is located at 707 NE 125 St. in North Miami.  For more information, call the gallery at 786-247-1962.