Virginia Key Sanctuary At The Miami Marine Stadium 2015

Published on December 17, 2015January 14, 2016 by Miami Art Reviews Inc.

William Mark Coulthard and Ana Bikic Photos by Ana Bikic

edited by Alexander Felix Coulthard

On Sunday I went to visit the Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key, Biscayne Bay’s iconic concrete bleacher has withstood neglect to shine as a blaring example of how Miami seems to just loose out on obvious opportunities.

In all these years of development, civic response and ultimately a lack of immediate restoration response the structure’s exposed iron brackets, beam re-bar and drainage systems have continued to deteriorate causing ultimate restoration cost to soar beyond commercial and finance projections. If only all concerned had used a marine rust inhibitor and coating all the exposed metal with a thick layer of grease. A small work order of less than $50,000 would have saved millions.

The stadium’s general integrity is a testament to Hilario Candela’s expert design skill but the current costs of restoration are yet again proof our city just lets things slide. The State’s engineers have visited our Bay bridges regularly and found them woefully wanting on protective coatings and their upkeep. Whether it’s the inspector’s recommendations being ignored or lapse oversight of crews, Miami ends up looking ammeter every time it sticks its hands out asking for money because we haven’t taken care of our toys.

The most recent issue to the Marine Stadium story is the clumsy manner in which the beach clearance was handled, whilst many are glad to see Australian Pine and Brazilian Pepper be eliminated from the shoreline around the stadium.

Virginia Key Sanctuary
City of Miami blames contractor in Marine Stadium mangrove destruction.

The loss of thousands of indigenous shoots that have sprouted is another example of the lack of knowledge on the ground shown by crew leaders and un-creative management to handle local concerns. I was alerted to this by fellow environmentalist and Virginia Key activist Blanca Mesa, who I’ve known for many years through the Urban Environment League of Miami and I have to agree with her that our responsibility to doing things the right way, although often more arduous, harvests better results. Perhaps another consideration is the numerous colorful sponge corals’ plight I found in the tidal wash under the stadium. Nature has this wonderful way of tagging along, marine creatures and pioneer organisms quietly attach themselves to our forgotten remnants and in turn are blamed for symbolizing ruin.

South Florida Coral reef's — Coral reef
Virginia Key Sanctuary by the Miami Marine Stadium
Miami Art Reviews 2015
photo by Ana Bikic

The Bay biosphere is under tremendous stress from human activity this year with the dredging, broken sewer lines and invasive species causing local fauna die offs. Many marvel at the beautiful turquoise waters after the Core has barged by, I lament the color to a choking death of the Bay water’s creatures. This circumvention of standard safe torpidity levels would never have been allowed ten years ago, but thanks to some fancy legal footwork development companies and other corporations have sullied any environmental suits. Thus setting a dismal precedence for other bay area projects around the State. Yes we can replant mangroves between the boat slips and design mooring pillars to attract shell life whilst hosting an International boat show but unless the obvious is put to priority everything else we try to do just comes off as contrived, self-invested and ridiculous.

The environment matters, the immediate restorative issues need practical attention and finally a conservative and viable economic plan for growth of the Stadium and surrounding enterprises should be quickly agreed upon. To encourage further important architectural work and Miami landmarks in the future, we should emphasize the value of this unique marine stadium.

Finally I have to address the issue of free shore line access to the public. Biscayne Bay is our playground, we abide by mooring and channel guides while attempting to maintain the Bay’s enviromental health.The State laws governing accessibility should never be altered like the water torpidity levels were, the waters are our refuge from urban life, they let us explore and discover ourselves each weekend by marveling at nature’s omnipotence. The pursuit of happiness I experienced many years ago was a Sunday afternoon listening to a floating live band under the flying bridge concrete canopy of the Marine Stadium. If Miami does this right, it will encourage others to stay and contribute their creativity to our city.

Virginia Key Sanctuary coral reef's — South Florida Coral reef’s
Below the Miami Marine Stadium photo by Ana Bikic

To reiterate ; prohibiting people from visiting an internationally renown structure, with its curious graffiti-ed decoration is not only ignorant but also shortsighted.
Why the Friends of the Marine Stadium have not succeeded in raising enough financial support is symptomatic of a banking and investment industry not willing to venture to a commoners’ pursuit. If the Boat show garners more attention for the Bay, don’t be surprised if the guards double in numbers to deter the Stadium’s curious admirers and our shoreline visits restricted to mask an unwanted compromise designed with excess instead of access.

Written By

William Mark Coulthard and Ana Bikic Photos by Ana Bikic

Edited by Alexander Felix Coulthard

Design Miami Art Basel 2012 to 2015

Published on January 18, 2015November 5, 2015 by Miami Art Reviews Inc.

Snarkitecture is Art incorporating architecture, Working within, architecture and designers.

Snarkitecture established by Alex Mustonen & Daniel Arsham.

Photo Credit : Ana Bikic

Snarkitecture, Design Miami, Miami Basel 2012, 2013, Miami Art Reviews Inc. Ph: 786-239-0118 miamiartreviews@gmail.com

2013 A Viva Florida 500 Event Coral Gables

Published on October 9, 2013October 11, 2013 by Miami Art Reviews Inc.

New World 1513 Mural Foundation at the Gables Hispanic Cultural Festival 2013
A Viva Florida 500 Event

The New World 1513 Mural Foundation will be participating at the Gables Hispanic Cultural Festival on 26th and 27th October.
This outdoor weekend Festival, in it’s fourth year, will feature local food, live music and art activities for the family.

The New World Mural 1513 tent at the Gables Hispanic Cultural Festival will be showing a recent tri-panel canvas mural celebrating Viva 500 . Tickets for the raffle of this mural will be sold at the tent,proceeds are going to the Dade Heritage Trust. with the final drawing at the end of the year.
The tent will also have postcards and small posters of local historic art for sale, a student history quiz with prizes and an opportunity for families to don period hats and take photos together in front of the art work. There will be a large canvas scroll mural where visitors can sign their “thanks” which is to be sent to the State’s archive collection for this year’s Viva Florida 500 program.

The New World Mural 1513 Foundation aims to raise the awareness of important events in history from 500 years ago. The State’s Viva Florida 500 program running this year is an important time to remember that Tequesta Miami was the first Native American
settlement discovered by the Spanish explorers.

The Gables Hispanic Cultural Festival will be at Biltmoor Way and Le Jeune, Coral Gables. It is a free family event lasting all day Saturday and Sunday, on the 26th and 27th October. Come and join us to learn that St Augustine was not the founding site of Juan Ponce De Leon 500 years ago in 1513. It was the Biscayne Bay and Tequesta Miami that were named as the first discovered Native American settlement, Viva 500 Miami.

http://www.newworldmural1513.com/

http://www.vivaflorida.org/Events/(from_date)/2013-10-7/(mode)/week/(query)/CORAL%20GABLES/(limit)/10/(sort_by)/Date

http://www.miamiartreviews.com

The DuPont Building In Miami

Published on March 16, 2013March 16, 2013 by Miami Art Reviews Inc.

Showing the rear cover of the Coconut grove Playhouse's wonderful history .

Saving Miami History

Published on March 12, 2013March 16, 2013 by Miami Art Reviews Inc.

Saving Miami History.

Advocacy For Regional Preservation of Heritage for Economical Stability.

by Wiliiam Coulthard / Edited by Ana Bikic Miami Art Reviews.

Carol Cohan's book Coconut Grove — Carol Cohan’s book Coconut Grove Playhouse back cover Pickering Press 1987
Miami Art Reviews Inc.

A region that relies upon tourism needs an entertainment industry. Historical sites are an integral part of this service orientated economy and the degradation and destruction of cultural interests undermines the formula a region has inherited over the decades and centuries. History is the repeated story that entertains, they are the tourist industry‘s product line and without them a region is no different than any other as a destination.

Although Miami Dade has beaches,National Parks and a pool side party image, most of our visitors are children and the retired if we include resident’s families,snow birds and annual holiday trippers. Their interests are based on more traditional pursuits that require a more intellectual approach to entertainment. Beaches and night clubs, gambling and sports are good for some but to attract an audience appreciation for the arts requires having a strong local history that is more appealing to opera lovers and art collectors, who in turn buy apartments and return each year.

Miami Dade County has an immediate or recent history in comparison to European regions but what interests visitors beyond just the pleasure and joy of visiting is to be entertained, educated and have memorable experiences that can be shared with friends upon returning home. Saving local history plays a vital role when tourists return home, they carry with them the stories behind the places they’ve visited. A region’s history actively stimulates intelligent and curious minds, between natural pleasures of parks and beaches to complete the experience of an exciting and fulfilling trip to their friends. The ancient Romans understood this economic formula providing not just arena entertainment but also galleries of archival history to accompany libraries and monuments. Their tourist cities provided the very best in spas and sports but the most successful cities like Pompey and Pila had preserved and prepared more ancient sites to excite a more affluent and studied clientele.

Miami, Miami Beach and the Miami Dade County, as a whole, must be mindful as it expands to what foot print of the past it wipes away. If an iconic house sitting in full view is the cover picture of an old story related to the region’s past with internationally known cultural references; it follows that the home’s destruction would bring strong negative feed back from previous and possible visitors. If a City is seen not to care about it’s heritage then it is seen not to care about it’s visitor’s experience. So why should they return? or talk well to others? Persuading for a location based on others opinions and published experiences, a reputation by region or location should be seen as a regional and residential responsibility for everyone wishing to live in a successful area and enjoy the benefits that come from an active tourist economy.

The history, architecture and intellectual property of local myths and stories that enrich the visitors experience of our region are vital to the tourism industry as a whole, without them Miami would be boring and predictable. Our local history adds variety to regional destination and encourages opportunities for creating new local attractions. Preservation is therefore a vital part, not an after thought, it is at the heart of our very image and if we are seen to not care what is torn down, our ineptness to protect our own interests will be ridiculed internationally. Currently the Coconut Grove Playhouse and the famous Star Island Mansion are up for destruction.

Now is the time to save them, like Miami did with the Daily News / Freedom Tower 12 years ago. Developers and their investors must realize history has unique and has brand name status and that the stories behind the history are an intellectual property that belongs to all the region’s residents, compromising local stories compromises future potential. Destroying history actually limits future development.

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Art Basel Satellite 2012 Red Dot Art Fair

Published on January 18, 2013January 18, 2013 by Miami Art Reviews Inc.

Art Reviews Miami International

Charles Birchfield DC Moore Art Gallery N.Y. Miami Art Reviews

Sometimes being delayed to write an article gives time for the spam art to sediment and the clear solutions created crystallize. Art shows are full of it but some less than others.
Miami’s Art Basel Miami Beach week has an entourage of side shows that proving to be an ideal part of Gallery circuits, giving local national and regional artists a wider reach.
The ‘dot’ Art Miami, grouped with the other mid town/design district fairs and shows attracted some great talent in December 2012 , collectively equaling the Art Basel Miami Beach in attendance and artistic value$.

This Charles Birchfield, last one left from the DC Moore Gallery NY. They had had a booth at Art Basel two years ago and sold six Birchfields.

Simon Raab. br 1952, spider grenades and puma made of bullet casings.with the GeorgeZimmerman Gallery.

Grenade Spider Art, by Simon Raab, Miami Art Basel Red Dot, Art Fair 2012.
Miami Art reviews

Raab lives and works in Germany. His work incorporates contemporary debate topics constantly, which has led to his work being banned in China and people being arrested trying to import art work.

This exhibit was very popular. South Florida has a strong hunting
tradition and his life size Puma made out of bullet casings was idolized.

The Douglas Dawson Gallery has been in Chicago since 1982. Member of the Antique Tribal Art Assoc. The use of old metal tables and heavy industrial materials as plinths for the Tribal art makes the Antiques display look like a Modern Art Gallery. Primitiveness is not without design finesse.

photo by Wm Coulthard — Miami Art Reviews

The exhibit was fascinating and was displayed with great taste.The Buddha sat surrounded by characters of the globe with the stone mill wheel inviting to view him through. Mr. Dawson not only has a great collection to choose from but he arranges the exhibits as we would want at home, in company and inviting intimate gaze. This Buddha wood carving sits nearly five feet high from the table.

The Jane Sauer Gallery, Sante Fe, New Mexico, The Jane Sauer Miami dot Art exhibit brought a surprising and talented group of contemporary American figurative Sculptors whose pose and content was immediately cognizant of the genre’s tradition and experimentation of material and content irony.

Bryan Drury

Portyrait painting. The pinnacle of perfect painting. The apex art form for visual artists Bryan Drury, 9 x 11 portrait titled Jake Garn 2012. This gem was hung on a side pillar wall unnoticed by most but obviously not all, it was red dotted,sold. Drury,born 1980, is from Utah,moved to New York, he has a MA in Fine Arts and has been working with the Dean project since his first solo exhibit in 2010. The detail of his hyper realistic style is flawless,

The detail of his hyper realistic style is flawless, making one realize how bad our eyes are when we see the detail on the subjects face down to pore and folecule. Many artists who attempt to flash with Hyper- realism loose the personality in all the details whether because they pay little attention to overall composition or forget that the living eye

is controlled by the brain and therefore has prejudice and favor of study. That’s why it is risky giving a portrait commission to a hyper realist painter, not that their work is unflattering for the subject but the image lacks life.The Drury we found at the Dot Art Miami show of Jake Garn was an exact likeness of our retired and beloved family dentist . The same kind, caring and calm expression smiled back to us. Here we realized was a great portrait painter and so young. We predict that Bryan Drury will become this county’s foremost portrait painter, he will paint Presidents and State portraits. Drury is an exceptional talent and anyone brave enough to commission their likeness must be ready for the microscope.

Ken Orton
Ken Orton, Born 1951 , UK. USA/ Esp. influenced by Ed Hooper, like so many British realism painters in the UK art schools as modern expressionism overshadowed even the Art school curricula . The Manchester school in particular,where he taught may have made Orton’s persistence with the new realism difficult with Calderists like Dave Sprakes insisting on being “painting professors” .

Miami Art Review — surrealism shows strong at Miami’s Art Basel shows 2012

Saye Gbatu
Surrealism at Art Miami . Vladimir Kush. reproductions, also Saye Gbatu NY and Madeline Von Foerster are the painted version of photo shop still making the audience wow with
wonder through thoughtful wit and all with a wicked brush talent that convinces the eye.

Miami art reviews 2012 Francisco Faria Miami Art Reviews — Miami art reviews 2012 Francisco Faria
Miami Art Reviews

Vladimir Kush Madeline Von Foerster
Francisco Faria, charcoal on paper. Atopia 2011, 42”x 62”, Art Miami 2012Bolsa de Arte San Paulo Brazil. Faria’s renderings are freshly composed in monchrome but the tonality and arrangement still evoke the hues he has excused, making his work out weigh a photo.

The Gallery has an International Art circuit from London, NY, Dubai and Miami. Faria’s charcoal landscapes were their most interesting exhibit at their Miami show.

China Traditional Painting Academy Miami 2012 — Miami Art Reviews

Chinese Traditional Painting Academy. This was an enlightening section filled with the Zen of old and new that needs it’s own blog space to do just. Whilst it is now easy to buy 200 year old Chinese paintings on E-Bay for a song, the Academy continues to teach and demonstrate their unique and popular discipline to brushed expression.

This section gave the whole afternoon’s viewing the perspective and tradition that many contemporary artists are pushing for.

The debate for quality. the argument against flippant gestures and easy bucks. That, Art’s value must be linked to it’s finesse and originality. That the name branding venturists of Wall Street whose contracted opinions of aesthetics need to allow the show system and real market debates as a measure of true talent and art value. Here,as you can see, very good art was not difficult to find at the Art Basel Miami Beach side shows across Biscayne Bay in Miami,Florida

edited Miami Art Reviews 12/12 to 01/13

Design Miami. Miami Basel 2012

Published on January 18, 2013January 18, 2013 by Miami Art Reviews Inc.1 Comment

Design Miami.

Miami Beach Art Basel 2012.
Design by Snarkitecture Projects.

Snarkitecture is a collaborative work Art incorporating architecture, exploring and experimental with the element off surprise working within existing spaces or in collaboration with other artists, architecture and designers.

Snarkitecture was established by Alex Mustonen and Daniel Arsham and is represented by Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin.

http://www.snarkitecture.com/
MIAMI Art Reviews 2012

miamiartreviews@gmail.com

Entrance to Miami Beach 2012 at the Miami Beach, Convention Center

Miami Beach Art Basel 2012 Reception.

Published on January 17, 2013January 17, 2013 by Miami Art Reviews Inc.

Art Basel Miami Beach 2012 VIP Reception from left to right, Annette Schönholzer, Norman Braman, Matti Herrera Bower,the Mayor of the City of Miami Beach and Guy Morin at the opening of Art Basel Miami Beach 2012.

Opening Day for the Art Basel Miami Beach 2012. Dec 6-9 Miami Art reviews 12/11/12

Thursday morning.

Chairman of the Miami Beach Host committee for Art Basel 2012 is Norman Braman, the county’s most popular and dynamic figure talked about the international reach he personally has witnessed. Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower was delighted to have Collins Park active encouraging the Art Basel crowd to explore. Guy Morin, Canton President of Basel_Stadt and Jason Chandler, UBS committed to the audience the expansion of the Art Basel market with an all year presence on Miami Beach announced by Annette Schönholzer and Marc Spiegler. It was an exciting start to the event and Miami officials were beaming to host this very lucrative and culturally prestigious show once again. The layout, sections and comfort needs fit well into the Miami Beach Convention Center and finding an alternative venue on the Beach would be hard. Mr. Norman Braman is correct in praising the lift the region has with the Basel partnership, Miami was also ready for a major art show or Biennial at the end of the 90’s. Now our region will have the Asian art market to attract visitors and investors.

Matti Herrera Bower — Matti Herrera Mayor of Miami Beach, at art basel Miami Beacg 2012
Photo by Ana Bikic for Art reviews Miami 2012

South Florida is blessed with warm sunny climes when the rest of the world is either beginning to shiver or tired of it.

Miami Beach’s artistic history continues by hosting Art Basel for another decade.

Art Basel Miami Beach 2012 – Art Reviews Miami 2012/13

Ponce De Leon poem by Edwin Markham 1925

Published on January 2, 2013January 18, 2013 by Miami Art Reviews Inc.

A poem for Juan Ponce De Leon 1513 -1925

2013 Viva 500 la Florida.

Viva Miami 500 Anniversary.

Juan Ponce De Leon 1513 Mural! Viva Florida<br />Edwin Markham Poem For Juan Ponce De Leon — Juan Ponce De Leon 1513 Mural! Viva Florida
Edwin Markham Poem For Juan Ponce De Leon.
Miami Art Reviews 2013

25 yrs Anniversary of the New World Mural Recreation. 1988/ 2013

New World 1513 mural, Miami Freedom Tower.

The New World 1513 mural’s poem was composed by poet laureate Edwin Markham in 1925.

It’s survives today to celebrate the State of Florida‘s Viva 500th Anniversary of

Naming and Discovery by Juan Ponce De Leon in 1513 to which the mural was dedicated

and commissioned in 1925 by Gov. James Middleton Cox. whilst building the Daily News

Tower, which is now known as the National Land marked

‘Freedom Tower’ Miami. MDC. Art Gallery and Museum.

The poem takes center stage of the mural design, encased in the central structure it reads.

Here once by April breezes blown

You came, O gallant De Leon,

Sailed up this friendly ocean stream

To find the wells of ancient dream

The fountain by the poets sung

Where life and love are ever young.

You found it not, O prince, and yet

The wells that made the heart forget

Are waiting here year ever here

With touch of some immortal sphere,

For here below these skies of gold

We have forgotten to grow old

Here in this land where all the hours

Dance by us treading upon the flowers.

Edwin Markham in 1925

This simple rhyming seven versed, to Juan Ponce De Leon’s arrival on the North American continent and the poets satirical epigram to historical myths twists to include us all blessed with final days here under one glorious golden sky after another. Markham had written and recited the epigram for the Lincoln Memorial ceremony in 1922. His recital of his “Lincoln, Man of the People” had an immediate recognition which prompted Gov.James Middleton Cox. to request Markham’s pen for a homage to the history of Miami, Florida and “these import moments in our distant histories.” (James Middleton Cox biography)

Edwin Markham was born in 1842, died 1940, educator, poet and American Institute of Arts and Letters member. 1922 Lincoln Memorial dedication “Lincoln, the Man of the People.” Nine schools named in his honor, A WW2 Liberty ship and Wagner College Horrmann Library archived collection of his personal library and letters.

Markham was a politically and socially conscious writer at odds with the modernists Pound and Elliot and their free form directions in literature. He his exampled as an American of Letters, whose work exemplifies the National tradition in Literature. His interested in working class struggles, ethnic troubles and equal opportunities in education made him a popular choice for composing important civic and cultural epigrams.

Other important works… The Man with the Hoe 1899, Lincoln and other Poems 1901, The Shoes of Happiness 1913,Children in Bondage 1914, California the Wonderful 1914, Gates of Paradise 1920, 80 poems at 80, 1932 and The Ballard of the Gallow’s Bird. published ph 1960.

The M.D.C., Miami Freedom Tower’s New World 1513 mural at the M.D.C. has an epigram by Edwin Markham that dedicates to the discovery of the first known Native American settlement discovered by the Spanish new world explorer Juan Ponce De Leon who landed his boats only yards away on the shores of Biscayne Bay. The Markham poem takes center position of the 44 Ft. Long mural and in true epigram satire twists the fountain of youth fable to include our collective search and fragility, making the verse equal to all contemporary tastes some 90 years later. Perhaps Markham’s preference for the structured inclusion of cultural content and witt is after all a more constant and enduring literary style than the more subjective modernism that surrounded his later days. His Lincoln writings have been re-read and recited as we celebrate the Man’s anniversaries again. Since the Memorial’s dedication in 1922 few writers have been able to equally express our National sentiment and admiration for the iconic President Lincoln and so the poets words continue to serve.

Florida History 1513

Viva Florida 500.

Viva Miami 500.