Events: Visual Arts

About the Artists: Dahlia Dreszer (Panama) is a photo-based artist living and working in Miami, Florida. A graduate of Emory University, Dahlia explores identity, memory, and cultural heritage through large-format photography and immersive installations that blur the boundaries between reality and artifice. Rooted in her Latin American and Jewish heritage, her work weaves personal narratives with broader cultural histories, often using still-life arrangements. Her recent projects include "Bringing the Outside In," and explorations at the intersection of technology, art, and nature most notably through her AI-generated alter ego, Clone Dahlia, featured in TIME magazine. Dahlia also curates public dialogues centering on collaboration, technology, and cross-cultural exchange.

Ray Tenorio Viera was born in Havana, Cuba, and is now based in Miami. With a background in Social Communication from the Universidad de La Habana, and further studies in Graphic and Commercial Arts at Miami Dade College and Illustration Design in Berlin, Ray draws inspiration from Surrealism, Expressionism, mythology, and Latin American and African folklore. His vivid, emotional artworks crafted with bold colors, confident lines, and rhythmic forms invite viewers into a world of psychedelic dreams and hidden narratives. Each piece emerges intuitively, encouraging a soul-deep dialogue between artwork and audience. Surrounded by The Betsy's renowned collection, guests will explore the intersection of art, community, and cultural storytelling. The evening includes time for audience Q&A, light refreshments, and the chance to connect with fellow art lovers in one of South Beach's most iconic settings. RSVP: Recommended, as space is limited.

About the Speaker:

Jonathan Henery works at the heart of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s artistic legacy, managing their studio and serving as Treasurer and Secretary of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation. He is intimately involved in stewarding the artists’ archives, advancing educational initiatives, and supporting new scholarship and exhibitions that keep their vision alive for new generations.

About the Christo & Jeanne-Claude Foundation:

The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting the work and legacy of the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The Foundation supports scholarly research, educational programming, and exhibitions that explore the impact of their large-scale, site-specific installations iconic projects like “The Gates” in Central Park, “Wrapped Reichstag” in Berlin, and “The Floating Piers” in Italy. Through its work, the Foundation ensures that the duo’s spirit of innovation, collaboration, and environmental engagement continues to inspire artists and audiences worldwide.

Guests will have the opportunity to explore the art and ideas that shaped Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s career, engage in a lively Q&A, and connect with fellow art enthusiasts in The Betsy’s vibrant gallery setting.

Admission: Tickets are $5. All proceeds support Zara’s Center, a safe haven for orphaned and vulnerable children in Emganwini Township, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

RSVP: Recommended, as space is limited.

About the Artists:

Ira Wagner began studying photography in 2008, following a 25-year career on Wall Street. With a keen interest in urban history, architecture, and design, Ira’s work documents the evolving urban landscape. He holds an MFA from Hartford Art School and currently teaches photography at Monmouth University in New Jersey. His projects include an acclaimed series on the Bronx, the book “Houseraising” (documenting Jersey Shore homes post-Hurricane Sandy), and ongoing explorations of cityscapes from Philadelphia to New Mexico. Ira’s work has been featured in The New Republic, National Geographic, and in a photobook by Daylight Books. He is a recipient of a New Jersey State Council on the Arts grant and continues to capture the changing face of the American city.

Lianne Jedeikin Goldsmith lives in Los Angeles, California. Born in Zimbabwe, she studied in Cape Town, South Africa before immigrating to the United States, where she founded Accentrix Design Studio. Her multicultural background and design expertise inform her creative practice, bringing a global perspective to her work.

Surrounded by The Betsy’s renowned collection, guests will explore the intersection of art, community, and cultural storytelling. The evening includes audience Q&A, light refreshments, and a chance to connect with fellow art lovers in one of South Beach’s most iconic settings.

Admission: Tickets are $5. All proceeds support Zara’s Center, a safe haven for orphaned and vulnerable children in Emganwini Township, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

RSVP: Recommended, as space is limited.

Included with your Freedom Tower admission ticket.

Visitors to the Freedom Tower may park for free in the MDC garage at 500 NE Second Avenue, between NE Fifth and NE Sixth Streets.

The Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) at MDC may document the event, including its attendees. By entering the area, and/or participating in the event, you consent to the recording and its use in any form.

MOAD's programs are made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor, and Board of County Commissioners. They are sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture, and with generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The programs at the Freedom Tower, operated by the Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) at Miami Dade College (MDC), are made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor, and the Board of County Commissioners. They are sponsored by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), with collections, exhibition, and marketing support from ArtesMiami, Art Bridges Foundation, the Shepard Broad Foundation, the Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA), Henry Luce Foundation, Jay I. Kislak Foundation, Mitchell Wolfson Sr. Foundation, and US Century Bank.

Image: Isabela Villanueva.