David LaChapelle, Jewish film fest and teen prodigies: Miami’s hottest art events in January
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Breathe a sigh of relief. We survived Miami Art Week, the holidays and the traffic.
Now we get to bask in the sun -- when it decides to come back out -- and enjoy the local arts scene without having to elbow tourists out of the way.
But first, an introduction. This is Arts Notes, the Miami Herald’s resurrected monthly column of art, shows and happenings. And I’m Amanda Rosa, your friendly neighborhood arts reporter. At the top of each month, I’ll be forecasting upcoming events and highlighting shows before they close. Check out my reporting throughout the month to stay up-to-date on Miami’s art and the artists who make it.
Have any recommendations? Email arosa@miamiherald.com.
Photographer David LaChapelle’s first Miami Beach show
You know David LaChapelle. He’s a famed photographer best known for capturing the some of world’s most iconic celebrities in some of the world’s most iconic photoshoots.
Like the one of Tupac taking a bubble bath. Or Mariah Carey with a rainbow spray painted on her behind. Lil Kim stamped in Louis Vuitton logos. Michael Jackson defeating the devil. Cher in front of a pooping horse. You get it.
LaChapelle is opening, “DAVID LACHAPELLE: HAPPY TOGETHER,” his first solo exhibition in Miami Beach at VISU Contemporary Art Gallery. It features more than 30 photographs from 1985 to the present and the premiere of a new work. The artist himself will be at the exhibition opening.
When: Opening Jan. 26, 7 p.m. On view until March 2
Where: VISU Contemporary Art Gallery, 2160 Park Ave., Miami Beach
Info: https://visugallery.com/exhibitions/15-david-lachapelle-happy-together/overview/
Last chance to see ‘cosmic’ Haitian art show
This Fort Lauderdale exhibition explores Haitian history, spirituality and artistic tradition.
“Cosmic Mirrors: Haitian Art Highlights from the Collection” opened at NSU Art Museum opened last summer. The show features beaded flags, iron sculptures, tropical landscapes and the philosophy of spiralism. Each artwork tells a unique story, like a portrait of Erzuile Fréda, the Haitian Vodou goddess of love. The artist said she appeared to him in a dream and commissioned the portrait herself. Learn more about the show in my coverage from last year.
“There’s always hope that you’re creating a sense of empathy and understanding of other people’s cultures, backgrounds, and also just to be able to appreciate the work in itself,” curator Ariella Wolens told me. “These artworks are just, in and of themselves, incredible, and people should be exposed to them.”
When: Closes Feb. 4
Where: NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, 1 E Las Olas Blvd
Info: nsuartmuseum.org
Visit local artist studios in Liberty City
If you’ve ever wondered what the inside of an artist’s studio is like, now is your chance to find out.
Fountainhead Arts, a local arts nonprofit, is hosting an open house at Collective 62, a beautiful and serene studio compound in Liberty City. Collective 62, directed by artist and sculptor Nina Surel, hosts the studios of 14 local artists and prides itself on supporting diverse women artists. It’s an opportunity for people like you to meet cool artists, check out their studios and learn more about what they do best.
This is a mini version of Fountainhead’s Artists Open, which is a full day of hundreds of open artist studios across Miami-Dade County. We gave Collective 62 a shoutout in last summer’s Artists Open guide.
When: Jan. 20, 3 -5 p.m.
Where: Collective 62, 827 NW 62nd. St., Miami
Info: RSVP online at https://www.fountainheadarts.org/upcoming/artists-open-collective
Miami Jewish Film Festival screens Anthony Hopkins film
Local film festival director Igor Shteyrenberg calls the art of film “an empathy machine.” The Miami Jewish Film Festival hopes to bring the community solace while sparking important conversations.
The festival returns this Thursday, kicking off with “One Life” staring legendary actor Sir Anthony Hopkins. In the film, he depicts Sir Nicholas Winton, a humble British stockbroker who helped saved 669 Jewish children from the Nazis.
The festival lineup features 120 films from 25 countries. Some films hail from South Florida, like “Between the Stone and the Flower,” a documentary that follows a Miami woman’s journey to uncover her family’s hidden Jewish heritage. Read our full story on the festival to learn more.
When: Jan. 11-25
Where: Venues include Coral Gables Art Cinema, The Hub at Temple Beth Am, Miami Beach Bandshell, Miami Theater Center, Michael-Ann Russell JCC, O Cinema South Beach and the Miami Beach JCC.
Info: Full schedule and tickets available online at https://miamijewishfilmfestival.org/
Top teen artists in the country perform in Miami
To see young up-and-coming artists from across the country, National YoungArts Week is here: five days of intensive workshops, classes and opportunities to show off their talents.
YoungArts is a Miami-based nonprofit that supports artists ages 15 to 18 across 10 disciplines. This year, 49 South Florida teens won the organization’s prestigious prize. The public can check out their artwork and watch them perform at these events:
Performances at New World Center, 500 17th St., Miami Beach
Jan. 8: Voice. Show at 8 p.m. Tickets here.
Jan 9: Jazz and theater. Show at 8 p.m. Tickets here.
Jan 10: Dance performance and film screening. Show at 8 p.m. Tickets here.
Jan 11: Classical music concert. Show at 8:30 p.m. Tickets here.
Events at YoungArts Campus, 2100 Biscayne Blvd, Miami
Both events on Jan. 12.
7 p.m.: Writers’ readings. Tickets here.
7:30 p.m.: Visual arts exhibition and interdisciplinary performance. Free RSVP here.
Info: https://youngarts.org/national-youngarts-week/
This story was produced with financial support from The Pérez Family Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
