Events: Visual Arts

This talk features a series of maps made during the first 100 years of Spanish colonial rule to show how the capital city of Mexico has taken shape, both in terms of urban planning and in the imagination. Cartography by both native and European artists demonstrates how the capital of the Aztec Empire, called Tenochtitlan, provided the literal foundations for the early modern Spanish capital that replaced it following the European invasion in the 1520s. The maps showcase Aztec migration and mythology, the incursion of Hispanic elements into native spaces, and other intriguing aspects of the oldest continuous metropolis in the Americas.

Dr. Delia Cosentino is Professor of History of Art and Architecture at DePaul University in Chicago, specializing in the visual culture of Greater Mexico. She is currently a Mellon Foundation Long-Term Fellow at the Newberry Library (2025-2026), researching Aztec gladiators. Cosentino co-authored Resurrecting Tenochtitlan: Imagining the Aztec Capital in Modern Mexico City (UT Press, 2023) with Adriana Zavala (Tufts University) and wrote Las Joyas de Zinacantepec: Arte Colonial en el Monasterio de San Miguel (Colegio Mexiquense, Mexico, 2007). She also curated Ceramic Trees of Life from Mexico (Fowler Museum, UCLA, 2003), Reverence Renewed: Colonial Andean Art from the Thoma Collection (DePaul Art Museum [DPAM], 2009), and Nexo/Nexus: Latin American Connections in the Midwest (DPAM, 2016).

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 (designated Building 7 on MDC's Wolfson Campus parking map).

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.

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: Hernan Cortes (c.1485 - 1547), Praeclara Ferdina[n]di Cortesii de noua maris oceani Hyspania narratio sacratissimo...,1524, Book. Jay I. Kislak Collection of the Early Americas, Exploration and Navigation, MDC PC 2018.1.12

Whether you are a beginner or advance practitioner, using movement and breathwork, rest assured you'll leave feeling transformed in all aspects of the mind, body, and spirit.

Admission to the Freedom Tower exhibitions and galleries following the class is included with your RSVP.

Event attendees my park for free in the MDC garage at 500 NE Second Avenue, between NE Fifth and NE Sixth Streets.

Please bring your own yoga mat. Yoga mats will not be available onsite.

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.

Nacida en Matanzas, Cuba, Gisselle Mestre Delgado emigró a Estados Unidos a los 14 años y obtuvo una licenciatura en Historia del Arte del Miami Dade College y la Universidad Internacional de Florida. Para el proyecto del centenario de la Torre de la Libertad, realizó más de 200 entrevistas, documentando las experiencias de los exiliados cubanos y otras diásporas en Miami. También archiva fotografías, documentos y recuerdos para el Archivo de la Torre de la Libertad y la Operación Pedro Pan interactiva, trabajando con la comunidad para preservar esta historia. Delgado aspira a seguir fomentando y creando espacios que fomenten la educación y la preservación del arte latinoamericano y el arte de las mujeres.

Incluido con su boleto de entrada a la Torre de la Libertad.

Los visitantes de la Torre de la Libertad pueden estacionar gratis en el estacionamiento del MDC, ubicado en 500 NE Second Avenue, entre las calles NE Fifth y NE Sixth.

El Museo de Arte y Diseño (MOAD) del MDC puede documentar el evento, incluyendo a sus asistentes. Al ingresar al área y/o participar en el evento, usted consiente la grabación y su uso en cualquier forma.

Los programas del MOAD son posibles gracias al apoyo del Departamento de Asuntos Culturales del Condado de Miami-Dade y el Consejo de Asuntos Culturales, el Alcalde del Condado de Miami-Dade y la Junta de Comisionados del Condado. Están patrocinados en parte por el Estado de Florida a través de la División de Artes y Cultura, y con el generoso apoyo de la Fundación John S. y James L. Knight.

Born in Matanzas, Cuba, Gisselle Mestre Delgado emigrated to the United States at age 14 and earned a bachelor's degree in Art History from Miami Dade College and Florida International University. For the Freedom Tower centennial project, she conducted over 200 interviews, documenting the experiences of Cuban exiles and other diasporas in Miami. She also archives photographs, documents, and memorabilia for the Freedom Tower Archive and Operation Pedro Pan interactive, working with the community to preserve this history.

Delgado aspires to continue fostering and creating spaces that engage in the education and preservation of Latin American Art and Women's Art.

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.

Image: Gisselle Mestre Delgado. Photo by Diego Franco.

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.