Art Wynwood, the winter season’s premier art fair is returning to the Art Wynwood Pavilion this President’s Day Weekend (a.k.a. Valentine’s Day Weekend and Boat Show weekend) for its fifth installment. The younger sister of Art Miami and Context Art Fair is hosting 70 international galleries, exhibiting cutting edge, contemporary and modern art in a seasonal destination. This year, Art Wynwood is presenting some highly anticipated projects and collaborations including a homage to the revolutionary era of free love titled: “The 60s Will Blow Your Mind.”
The interactive, collaborative exhibition “The '60s Will Blow Your Mind” will feature music, art, lectures and fashion (or wearable art). About the inspiration for this project, Director Grela Oriheula said: “The '60s was a time when art exploded, setting a precedent that is still very evident in today’s cultural scene. We were inspired by how artists of that generation gave life to history’s first globally connected experience. Their ideas materialized into thought-provoking trends that continue to stimulate audiences. This creative chaos is still at the core of 21st Century art, and we wanted to highlight that evolution at Art Wynwood.”
Warhol's Flowers.
The exhibition will explore the interconnectedness between various genres of art: film, fashion, fine art, music, and history. As Oriheula told us: “Luis Valenzuela of The Creators Lab will premier his avant-garde wearable art, inspired by the revolutionary '60s decade. Wynwood Radio will be playing memorable music from that decade both on the airwaves and live at the fair featuring DJ Brian Jones. They will also be hosting interviews and collaborations onsite. The '60s work will be exhibited throughout the fair both in public spaces and of course within exhibitor booths. Keep an eye out for the '60s flower icons as they indicate both work from the 60’s and work inspired by the '60s. Some can’t-miss pieces include: Andy Warhol’s Red Kennedy, Harry Benson’s The Beatles Pillow Fight, Robert Indiana’s German Love and Bridget Riley’s Fragment 7.”
History inspires art. In fact, it may well be considered art; it is in essence a creative nonfiction narrative recollection of the past: part truth, part fable. History, presented through books and documentaries, is often nothing but a plot, collected in bits and pieces. These fragments are filmed, recorded or written, with all the artistic remnants of those who lived it. Their creative remains include fashion, music, and film: what people wore, what they listened to, and what they did. Transformed into a plot, history is the oldest form of art or storytelling. The mythologized and romanticized era of the '60s plays like a movie, at times a love story, a musical or a war drama; so the hippie era is a fitting theme for a hip, contemporary art fair. Keeping history pertinent is also a great way to pay homage to artistic predecessors and the legacy of modern art.
Last Year.
The epoch of the Swinging Sixties, playing in technicolor, is now a pop sensation. Look up at all the billboards and see the words: LOVE, PEACE, AND HAPPINESS. The ubiquitous words defining the era of free love will definitely be at Art Wynwood along with many preferring “flowers in their hair, not diamonds in their neck.” Well, maybe not the later. One of the main reasons for the fair is economy; the pieces are being sold and they aren’t selling cheap. But, the fair is engaging in philanthropic and community building projects that are at the heart of the art world and in tune with the social consciousness of the '60s.
Just as one art form cannot exist without the other, arts organizations and enterprises can’t exist in a vacuum. Through FOCUS Miami, Art Wynwood emphasizes the contributions of various local entities that support cultural growth. About the collaborations Oriheula mentioned: “Through FOCUS Miami, we are able to place a special emphasis on some of incredible local talent that makes our city so culturally distinct. This year, we are hosting five diverse Miami organizations: Laundromat (featuring a live performance piece daily by resident artist Christin Paige Minnotte), Locust Projects (featuring the work of Clifton Childree), The Miami Rail (with special guest Bookleggers), Yeelen Art Space (bringing us their diverse program of artists), and Wynwood Radio (the official radio station of the fair and will broadcast live daily). In spotlighting these organizations, we are able to create awareness on the broad range of programs that encompass Miami’s ever-thriving art scene.”
Various philanthropic enterprises would not exist without the support of the arts, which usually draw a crowd. And the symbiosis between creativity, expression, and charity is crucial to the development of great cities. Miami is no exception. The Perry J. Cohen Foundation, which promotes boating safety and entrepreneurship amongst teenagers, is teaming up with artist, Kevin O’Leary. O’Leary, also known for his role on TV’s “Shark Tank,” is presenting his photography exhibition “Irreconcilable Images.” About the unison of the collaboration, Oriheula said: “After Kevin met Perry’s parents at Art Miami, partnering with [them] Pamela and Nick was natural. Kevin wanted to do something to encourage young, motivated, entrepreneurs in the community, and decided to donate all profits from the sales of his photographs from his Art Wynwood exhibit “Irreconcilable Images” to the Perry J. Cohen Foundation. The Foundation is set up to create awareness around recreational boating, a cause that is clearly near and dear to us. I think this brings a whole new meaning to the way the art world can participate in charitable ventures, providing education on important issues in a new, visual way.”
Through a combination of similar interests and synchronistic meetings various leaders in the arts, philanthropy, and even television media have conjured exhibitions, projects, and programs, which will definitely blow your mind at Art Wynwood 2016.
Bernie Taupin's Sleeping Beauty.
Read the entire interview with Grela Orihuela below:
- What new and exciting elements can art enthusiasts expect to find at the 5th installment of Art Wynwood?
With 72 galleries hailing from all over the globe, this is our most diverse fair yet. There will be everything from work by street artists to pieces by more seasoned contemporary and modern artists, so there’s truly something for everyone! This year, we are excited about the curated exhibitions at Art Wynwood. We will be celebrating the vast local talent through FOCUS Miami and bringing visitors back to a decade of disruption with “The 1960s Will Blow Your Mind.” - What is the inspiration or reason behind “The 1960s Will Blow Your Mind” project?
The ‘60s was a time when art exploded; setting a precedent that is still very evident in today’s cultural scene. We were inspired by how artists of that generation gave life to history’s first globally connected experience. Their ideas materialized into thought-provoking trends that continue to stimulate audiences. This creative chaos is still at the core of 21st Century art, and we wanted to highlight that evolution at Art Wynwood. - When will the lectures and music and fashion components of the '60s project take place during the fair days and hours?
The VIP Preview is by far the best time to see how “The 1960s Will Blow Your Mind” unfolds. It’s an exclusive first look at the fair, Luis Valenzuela of The Creators Lab will premier his avant-garde wearable art, inspired by the revolutionary 60’s decade. Wynwood Radio will be playing memorable music from that decade both on the airwaves and live at the fair featuring DJ Brian Jones. They will also be hosting interviews and collaborations onsite. The 60’s work will be exhibited throughout the fair both in public spaces and of course within exhibitor booths. Keep an eye our for the 60’s flower icons as they indicate both work from the 60’s and work inspired by the 60’s. Some can’t-miss pieces include: Andy Warhol’s Red Kennedy, Harry Benson’s The Beatles Pillow Fight, Robert Indiana’s German Love and Bridget Riley’s Fragment 7. - Can you tell us about Art Wynwood's collaboration with FOCUS Miami?
Through FOCUS Miami, we are able to place a special emphasis on some of incredible local talent that makes our city so culturally distinct. This year, we are hosting five diverse Miami organizations: Laundromat (featuring a live performance piece daily by resident artist Christin Paige Minnotte), Locust Projects (featuring the work of Clifton Childree), The Miami Rail (with special guest Bookleggers), Yeelen Art Space (bringing us their diverse program of artists), and Wynwood Radio (the official radio station of the fair and will broadcast live daily). In spotlighting these organizations, we are able to create awareness on the broad range of programs that encompass Miami’s ever-thriving art scene. - What are some of the organizations that the fair is working with?
For the second year in a row, Wynwood Walls Shop will exhibit limited edition prints from current and prior Wynwood Walls artists that will be signed and numbered. In addition to the many local organizations that we are partnering with in FOCUS Miami, Art Wynwood will also be exhibiting artist created Zines from around the world with Dirty Bind, a project from the recently opened SWGR Gallery in the heart of Wynwood.
Moriello's Hepburn from Arteria Gallery.
"We also have a special exhibit of works by iconic photographer Martha Cooper, the recipient of this year’s Tony Goldman Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award and through Miami’s Independent Thinkers we will also exhibit side by side with Martha’s work, the work of local street art photographer Kerry McLaney. These exhibits highlight the vibrancy of the Miami street art movement, something we have done for all of the five years of Art Wynwood."
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For more information visit www.artwynwood.com
Fair Hours
Thursday, Feb. 11
VIP Preview 6 to 10 p.m.
Access for Art Wynwood VIP Cardholders & Press
General Admission:
- Friday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Monday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m..
***Days and Times Subject to Change***
Fair Information T: 305.517.7977 or info@artwynwood.com, Location The Art Wynwood Pavilion, Midtown Miami | Wynwood, 2901 NE 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33137.
